Ras gene activation in malignant cells of human ovarian carcinoma peritoneal fluids

In this study, we showed, for the first time, the pattern of point mutation s at codon 12 of the K-ras, H-ras and N-ras genes, using polymerase chain r eaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis in 47 maligna nt cytologic specimens of ovarian adenocarcinoma peritoneal fluids. Forty-s even % of the samples were found to carry a point mutation at codon 12 of K -ras gene. Also, 21 cystadenoma peritoneal fluids were used as control spec imens for the detection of ras mutations. Fourteen % of these samples were found to carry a point mutation at codon 12 of the K-ras gene. The prevalen ce of K-ras gene mutations were statistically correlated with FIGO and surg ical stage of the malignant specimens. Our data demonstrates that the K-ras gene mutations are mainly affected (47%) in the malignant cells of the per itoneal washings or ascites of women with ovarian adenocarcinomas and may h ave value for the early diagnosis and monitoring of these neoplasms.