PCR-RFLP Analysis for Detecting Mutations at 12th Codon of Oncogene Ras in Korean Human Skin Cancer

Abstract

BACKGROUND : The mutation of ras oncogenes has been detected in a broad spectrum of human malignancy. These mutations have been localized at codons 12, 13 and 61 of three ras genes (K-,H-,N-ras). Especially, codon 12 of three ras genes are frepuently mrepuently mutated in human cancers. OBJECT : The purpose of this study is to detect mutation of codon 12 of the K-ras gene in 3 seborrheic keratoses, 6 basal cell carcinomas and 7 spuamous cell carcinomas. METHOD : We prepared chromosomal DNA from tumor specimens and perforned Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism analysis of codon 12 the K-ras gene. RESULT : In this study, we could not find any mutation at the codon 12 of the K-ras genes from our cases. CONCLUSION : Our results suggest that mutation of codon 12 of the K-ras gene is not common in the carcinogenesis of human skin neoplasms. It may have little relevance to the mutations of the K-ras gene. So, further studies (searching for codon 13 and 61 areas) and other techniques are needed to clarify the relationship of the K-ras gene and skin cancers in the future.