Aberrations of the K-ras, p53, and APC genes in extrahepatic bile duct cancer

Background and Objectives: The genetic alterations involved in extrahepatic bile duct (EHBD) cancer are poorly understood. Our aim was to identify abe rrations of the K-ras, p53, and APC genes in EHBD cancer. Methods: We investigated abet-rations of these genes in 52 EHBD cancers usi ng polymerase chain reaction (PCR) single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis, followed by direct sequence determination and a PCR restriction f ragment length polymorphism assay. Results: The K-ras, p53, and APC genes were mutated in 9.6%, 32.7%, and 0% of EHBD cancers, respectively. Loss of heterozygosity at the p53 and APC ge ne loci was identified in 15.6% and 38.5% of EHBD cancers, respectively. Conclusions: Our results suggest that an unknown suppressor gene on 5q othe r than the APC gene may be responsible for EHBD cancer. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss , Inc.