Mutations of the KRAS oncogene in endometrial hyperplasia and carcinoma.

The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence and clinicopathological significance of KRAS point mutation in endometrial hyperplasia and carcinoma. We analysed KRAS in 11 cases of complex atypical hyperplasia and in 49 endometrial carcinomas using polymerase chain reaction associated with restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFPL). Point mutations at codon 12 of KRAS oncogene were identified in 7 of 49 (14,3%) tumor specimens and in 2 of 11 (18,2%) hyperplasias. No correlation was found between KRAS gene mutation and age at onset, histology, grade of differentiation and clinical stage. We conclude that KRAS mutation is a relatively common event in endometrial carcinogenesis, but with no prognostic value.