Abstract
Background: We detected benign pancreatic cysts in more than half of 12 cases of in situ pancreatic cancer. A few investigators, having detected K‐ras mutation in pancreatic juice before the clinical diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, have suggested that this mutation might be an early event in pancreatic oncogenesis. Therefore, in the present study, we evaluated whether benign pancreatic cysts are a precancerous condition as reflected by K‐ras mutation in pancreatic juice.Methods: Pancreatic juice was collected through endoscopic cannulation of the pancreatic duct. Analysis of the mutations was performed using the polymerase chain reaction–preferential homoduplex formation assay.Results: The frequencies and types of K‐ras point mutations and the rate of multiplicity of K‐ras mutations in patients with benign pancreatic cyst were the same as those with pancreatic cancer.Conclusions: Multiple K‐ras codon 12 mutations in the pancreatic juice of patients with benign pancreatic cysts are present as frequently as those with pancreatic cancer. These results indicate that patients with benign cysts may be at a high‐risk for the development of pancreatic cancer.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call