c-Ki-ras gene mutations in dysplasia and carcinomas complicating ulcerative colitis

One hundred and nine samples comprising carcinomas, adenomas, dysplastic, inflamed and normal mucosa from patients with sporadic colon cancer and ulcerative colitis (UC) were analysed for c-Ki-ras mutations. DNA was extracted from archival paraffin-embedded material, amplified using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the PCR products analysed using restriction enzyme digestion. Forty-two per cent (14/33) of the sporadic carcinoma controls contained Ki-ras codon 12 mutations in contrast to 24% (8/33) of ulcerative colitis carcinomas. A significantly higher c-Ki-ras mutation rate was observed in rectal carcinomas (72%) in comparison to colonic carcinomas (28%) in control patients (P less than 0.04), while the opposite was observed in UC patients. The difference between the incidence of c-Ki-ras mutations in rectal carcinomas in UC (9%) and in sporadic rectal carcinomas (72%) was also significant (P less than 0.01). This lower prevalence rate and different site distribution of c-Ki-ras mutations in UC carcinomas compared to sporadic carcinomas suggests that specific genetic differences may underlie the causation of carcinomas arising in these situations.