DETECTION OF K-RAS MUTATIONS IN CANCEROUS LESIONS OF HUMAN ENDOMETRIUM

The many genetic changes associated with human carcinogenesis include the activation and/or inactivation of various genes. Polymerase-chain reaction and single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis [PCR-SSC P] was used to detect alterations at exon 1 of the K-ras gene in 20 le sions of human endometrium, Six cases of endometrial hyperplasia, 13 o f endometrial carcinoma and one of endometrial metastasis of ovarian c anter were analyzed. Mutations at exon 1 of the K-ras gene were detect ed in two of 13 human endometrial carcinomas [15%]; both were histolog ically defined adenocarcinomas, stage Ib and stage IIa according to th e FIGO. Alterations were also observed in the single case of endometri al metastasis of ovarian cancer. It is worthy of note that among the s ix women with hyperplasic endometrial lesions K-ras gene mutation were not reported. These data suggest that K-ras activation is rare in Pol ish women and when it does occur it is in cancerous, but not in percan cerous, lesions of human endometrium.