The human ras gene plays a fundamental role in the transduction of extracellular signals to the nucleus, thereby regulating cell growth and differentiation. Point mutations in the ras gene convert it into a transforming oncogene that has been found in many solid and hematologic malignancies. We describe a rapid and sensitive assay based on a radiolabeled polymerase chain reaction followed by re...

BACKGROUND Oncogenic mutations are common in thyroid cancers. While the frequently detected RAS-oncogene mutations have been studied for diagnostic use in cytologically indeterminate thyroid nodules, no investigation has studied such mutations in an unselected population of thyroid nodules. No long-term study of RAS-positive thyroid nodules has been performed. METHODS We performed a prospecti...

Mutations of APC and KRAS are frequently observed in human colorectal cancers (CRCs) and the Wnt/β-catenin and Ras pathways are consequently activated in a significant proportion of CRC patients. Mutations in these two genes are also known to synergistically induce progression of CRCs. Through a series of studies, we have demonstrated that inhibition of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway negat...

Introduction: Cervical cancer is the second most important cancer in women worldwide, and the second cause of cancer death in women. It has been shown that the process of cervical carcinogenesis presents as genetic and epigenetic components as environmental issues. At present, many studies are addressed in searching for molecular markers such as mutations in oncogenes and/or tumor suppressor ge...

The pathogenesis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) involves the cooperation of mutations promoting proliferation/survival and those impairing differentiation. Point mutations of the N-RAS gene are the most frequent somatic mutations causing aberrant signal-transduction in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The aim of the present work is to study the frequency and prognostic significance of N-RAS gene ...

Primary esophageal squamous cell carcinomas from 41 patients were analyzed for the presence of proto-oncogene alterations associated with this malignancy. The occurrence of activating ras gene mutations in 25 tumors was determined using oligomer hybridization of target sequences amplified by polymerase chain reaction. We found no evidence for mutations in codons 12 and 61 of the H-ras, K-ras, a...

Targeting of oncogenic driver mutations with small-molecule inhibitors resulted in powerful treatment options for cancer patients in recent years. The RAS (rat sarcoma) pathway is among the most frequently mutated pathways in human cancer. Whereas targeting mutant Kirsten RAS (KRAS) remains difficult, mutant B rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma (BRAF) kinase is an established drug target in cance...

The Ki-ras protooncogene frequently is mutated in colorectal adenocarcinomas, but the etiology of this molecular event is uncertain. We investigated the association between variables known or suspected to be related to risk for colorectal cancer and the occurrence of Ki-ras mutations in colorectal adenomas. This study was conducted among 678 male and female participants, 40-80 years of age, enr...

The frequency of ras (H-, K-, and N-ras) and c-myc oncogenes was investigated in multiple myeloma (MM). By means of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)/oligonucleotide hybridization method, DNA from 56 tumor biopsies was analyzed for the presence of activating mutations involving codons 12 and 61 of the H-, K-, and N-ras genes and codon 13 of the N-ras gene. Mutations, involving the N- or K-ras...

Aims-To develop a rapid PCR ELISA procedure for the detection of mutations in K-ras in a microtitre plate format, and to evaluate the assay for the detection of these mutations in human colorectal cancer.Methods-An enriched PCR method was used with labelled primers, and PCR product was captured on GCN4 coated immunoassay plates. Detection of biotinylated mutant product was performed by colorime...