High K-ras mutation rates in goblet-cell-type adenocarcinomas of the lungs

• Published in: Journal of cancer research and clinical oncology Vol. 121; no. 9-10; pp. 577 - 581
• Main Authors: TSUCHIYA, E, FURUTA, R, WADA, N, NAKAGAWA, K, ISHIKAWA, Y, KAWABUCHI, B, NAKAMURA, Y, SUGANO, H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01-09-1995
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma - genetics; Adenocarcinoma - pathology; Base Sequence; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Differentiation; DNA Primers - chemistry; Female; Genes, ras; Humans; Lung Neoplasms - genetics; Lung Neoplasms - pathology; Male; Medical sciences; Molecular Sequence Data; Pneumology; Point Mutation; Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) - genetics; Tumors of the respiratory system and mediastinum; Adenocarcinoma; Human; Lung disease; Respiratory disease; Pathogenesis; Lung; Histology; Malignant tumor; Cell differentiation; Bronchopulmonary; Classification; Point mutation; Onc gene
• ISSN: 0171-5216; 1432-1335
• DOI: 10.1007/BF01197773

Adenocarcinomas of the lungs show a variable histology. We have subclassified such lesions into five cell types: hobnail, columnar, polygonal, mixed and goblet cell types, and investigated their relationships with K-ras mutations. Codons 12, 13 and 61 of the K-ras gene in 120 surgically resected pulmonary adenocarcinomas were examined by the mutation-allele-specific amplification method. Point mutations were observed in 10% of the adenocarcinomas limited to K-ras codon 12 and the commonest base substitution (nine cases) was a G to T transversion. Of the five types, goblet cell lesions demonstrated the highest mutation index, which at 100% (6/6) was significantly different from that of all other cell types. No relationship between K-ras mutation and cigarette smoking was observed. From these findings, it appears that development of goblet-cell-type adenocarcinomas of the lung may involve different carcinogenic mechanisms from adenocarcinomas of other subtypes.