Coexistence of K-ras mutations and HPV infection in colon cancer
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background </p> <p>Activation of the ras genes or association with human papillomavirus infection have been extensively studied in colorectal cancer. However, the correlation between K-ras mutations and HPV in colorectal cancer has not been investigat...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2006-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Cancer |
| Online Access: | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2407/6/115 |
| Summary: | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background </p> <p>Activation of the ras genes or association with human papillomavirus infection have been extensively studied in colorectal cancer. However, the correlation between K-ras mutations and HPV in colorectal cancer has not been investigated yet. In this study we aimed to investigate the presence of K-ras mutations and their correlation with HPV infection in colon cancer.</p> <p>Methods </p> <p>K-ras mutations were analyzed by a mutagenic PCR assay and digestion with specific restriction enzymes to distinguish the wild-type and mutant codons. HPV infection was analyzed by PCR amplification and hybridization with specific probes by Southern blotting. Stattistical analyses were performed by the chi-square and Fisher's exact tests</p> <p>Results </p> <p>HPV gene fragments were detected in 43 tumors and 17 normal tissue samples. HPV 18 was the prevalent type in the tumor tissue. A mutation at codon 12 of the K-ras gene was present in 31 patients. 56% of the HPV-positive tumors also harbored a K-ras mutation. Codon 13 mutations were not observed. These data indicate that infection with high risk HPV types and mutational activation of the K-ras gene are frequent events in colorectal carcinogenesis.</p> <p>Conclusion </p> <p>Our findings suggest that mutational activation of the K-ras gene is a common event in colon carcinogenesis and that HPV infection may represent an important factor in the development of the premalignant lesions leading to the neoplastic phenotype.</p> |
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| ISSN: | 1471-2407 |