K-RAS MUTATIONS IN STOOLS AND TISSUE SAMPLES FROM PATIENTS WITH MALIGNANT AND NONMALIGNANT PANCREATIC DISEASES

Mutant-enriched PCR and reverse dot blot hybridization in microplates were applied for examining K-ms status in stools and tissue samples fr om patients with pancreatic tumors and chronic pancreatitis. In tissue samples, K-ras mutations were found in 32 of 35 cases of ductal adeno carcinoma, in 5 of 7 periampullary cancers, in 1 cystadenocarcinoma, a nd in 3 of 5 patients with chronic pancreatitis. In stools, mutated K- uns was seen in 10 of 25 cases of ductal adenocarcinoma, in 1 case of cystadenocarcinoma, and in 2 of 6 cases of chronic pancreatitis. These data indicate that the K-ras status of stool samples may help identif y pancreatic carcinoma and persons at risk for cancer development; how ever, it does not allow discrimination of malignant from nonmalignant diseases.