Journal List > J Korean Endocr Soc > v.22(3) > 1003361

Jung, Kim, Jung, Oh, Jang, Jung, Min, Lee, Lee, Kim, and Chung: ras Mutation in Korean Papillary Thyroid Carcinomas

Abstract

Background

RET/PTC rearrangement and mutations of BRAF and ras are well-known oncogenes involved in the pathogenesis of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). The prevalence of RET/PTC rearrangement and BRAF mutations were 0~13% and 66~83% in Korean patients with PTC, respectively. We evaluated the prevalence of ras mutations in surgical specimens of PTC, and we compared them with the patients' clinical features.

Subjects and Methods

We included the surgical specimens of 49 PTCs and a few follicular thyroid carcinomas (FTCs) and follicular adenomas (FAs) as positive controls. Polymerase chain reaction, single strand conformation polymorphism and direct sequence analysis were consecutively performed to detect ras mutations.

Results

No mutations of the ras oncogenes were detected in 49 PTCs. However, heterozygous mutations of the ras oncogenes were found in a FTC and FA as positive controls, respectively.

Conclusion

These findings suggested that ras mutation is not or rarely related to the tumorigenesis of PTCs in Koreans. Therefore, BRAF mutations and RET/PTC rearrangement, rather than ras mutation, might contribute the development of PTC in Koreans.

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1
A. Electrophoresis in 1.0% agarose gel using PCR products of K-, N- and H-ras from papillary thyroid carcinoma. M indicates molecular size marker. B. Representative results of SSCP for N-ras gene using 0.5 × MDE gel. There is no shift of band between 1 (normal control) and 2~4 (from papillary thyroid carcinomas).
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Fig. 2
Representative direct sequences for exon-2 of N-ras gene using DNA from papillary thyroid carcinoma (A) and follicular carcinoma (B). B shows a mutation in heterozygosity at codon 61 (CAA --- AAA).
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Table 1
Oligonucleotide primers and PCR conditions to amplify fragments of the ras oncogene
jkes-22-203-i001

PCR; Polymerase chain reaction, "; seconds.

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