Analysis of K-ras mutations in pancreatic tissue after fine needle aspirates

The majority of pancreatic carcinomas contain a mutation at codon 12 of the K-ras oncogene. We have analysed 87 samples from 76 patients who underwent surgery because of different pancreatic diseases to evaluate whether the d etection of K-ras mutations may be helpful to discriminate between chronic inflammation and neoplastic growth. Mutation analysis was performed using a semi-nested PCR followed by a selective restriction enzyme digestion. The correlation of clinical follow ups with the results of the molecular analys is was performed from 47 patients. K-ras mutations were detected in 50% of adenocarcinomas and no point mutation was found in normal pancreatic tissue and in tumor tissue from entities other than pancreas. Otherwise, K-ras mu tations were detected in tissue samples from two patients with chronic panc reatitis, and one patient was found to have an adenocarcinoma after additio nal clinical investigation. Further studies especially follow ups will be h elpful to get a better insight into the pathogenesis of pancreatic tumors a nd may be useful as an early diagnostic test.