ME-PCR for the identification of mutated K-ras in serum and bile of pancreatic cancer patients: an unsatisfactory technique for clinical applications

Our aim was to assess the clinical reliability of mutated K-ms detection in serum or bile for the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer using ME-PCR. DNA was extracted from 1 mi serum obtained from 29 patients with pancreatic cancer and 12 control subjects. ME-PCR was optimized using a mixture of normal DN A added with different amounts of mutated DNA. The analysis of sera obtaine d from the 29 patients and of bile obtained from 11 pancreatic cancer patie nts demonstrated the presence of mutated K-ras in two (6.9%) and four cases (36%). By contrast K-ras was not amplifiable in any of the 12 serum sample s obtained from healthy controls. In conclusion the DNA obtained from pancr eatic cancer patients' sera is suitable for K-ras amplification and for the identification of codon 12 point mutations. However ME-PCR alone has an un satisfactory sensitivity for the detection of pancreatic cancer using serum DNA as starting template. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserv ed.