K-ras Gene Mutations in Pancreatico-Biliary Maljunction

K- ras and p53 gene mutations in noncancerous biliary lesions of patients with pancreaticobiliary maljunction

“…The primary aim of the present study was to precisely analyze the incidence and the types of gene mutations of the K‐ ras gene and the p53 gene and the overexpression of p53 gene product in a large series of cancerous and noncancerous biliary lesions of patients with PBM. The results of the present study clearly demonstrated a high incidence of K‐ ras gene mutations and p53 gene mutations, not only in cancerous lesions but also in noncancerous lesions in the biliary epithelium of patients with PBM, which further confirmed the findings in our previous studies 12,13,25. These results suggest that multiple gene mutations are accumulated in the various noncancerous lesions that occur in the biliary epithelium in patients with PBM, which provides further evidence to suggest that these noncancerous lesions are in a precancerous state.…”

“…The results of the present study clearly demonstrated a high incidence of K‐ ras gene mutations in various noncancerous epithelial lesions, as well as in carcinoma. We have previously demonstrated a high incidence of K‐ ras gene mutations, not only in biliary carcinoma but also in noncancerous lesions of the biliary epithelium in patients with PBM 12,13. K‐ ras gene mutations were detected in 5 of 8 (62.5%) gallbladder and bile duct carcinomas and in 18 of 49 (36.7%) biliary epithelia without carcinoma in patients with PBM in the present series.…”

“…We have previously demonstrated a high incidence of K-ras gene mutations, not only in biliary carcinoma but also in noncancerous lesions of the biliary epithelium in patients with PBM. 12,13 K-ras gene mutations were detected in 5 of 8 (62.5%) gallbladder and bile duct carcinomas and in 18 of 49 (36.7%) biliary epithelia without carcinoma in patients with PBM in the present series. The incidence of K-ras gene mutations in cancerous and noncancerous lesions in a large series of patients with PBM was thus similar to that reported previously.…”

“…No mutation of the p53 suppressor oncogene was found in the nonneoplastic gallbladder and bile duct epithelia of six patients without PBM ings in our previous studies. 12,13,25 These results suggest that multiple gene mutations are accumulated in the various noncancerous lesions that occur in the biliary epithelium in patients with PBM, which provides further evidence to suggest that these noncancerous lesions are in a precancerous state.…”