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A rare point mutation in the Ras oncogene in hepatocellular carcinoma

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Abstract

Purpose

The Ras gene is one of the oncogenes most frequently detected in human cancers, and codes for three proteins (K-, N-, and H-Ras). The aim of this study was to examine the mutations in codons 12, 13 and 61 of the three Ras genes in cases of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods

Paired samples of HCC and corresponding non-malignant liver tissue were collected from 61 patients who underwent hepatectomy. A dot-blot analysis was used to analyze the products of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of codons 12, 13, and 61 of K-, N- and H-Ras for mutations.

Results

Only one mutation (K-Ras codon 13; Gly to Asp) was detected among the 61 patients. Interestingly, this patient had a medical history of surgery for both gastric cancer and right lung cancer. No mutations were found in codons 12 and 61 of K-Ras or codons 12, 13 and 61 of the N-Ras and H-Ras genes in any of the HCCs or corresponding non-malignant tissues.

Conclusions

These findings indicated that the activation of Ras proto-oncogenes by mutations in codons 12, 13, and 61 does not play a major role in hepatocellular carcinogenesis.

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Abbreviations

Asp:

Asparagine

Glu:

Glutamate

Gly:

Glycine

HCC:

Hepatocellular carcinoma

Lys:

Lysine

PCR:

Polymerase chain reaction

TTP:

Time to progression

Val:

Valine

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Acknowledgments

We thank Professor Brian Quinn for his review of this manuscript. No financial support was received for this work from any company. This study was supported in part by a grant from the Scientific Research Fund of the Ministry of Education of Japan.

Conflict of interest

None of the authors has any conflict of interest.

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Correspondence to Akinobu Taketomi.

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Taketomi, A., Shirabe, K., Muto, J. et al. A rare point mutation in the Ras oncogene in hepatocellular carcinoma. Surg Today 43, 289–292 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00595-012-0462-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00595-012-0462-8

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