K-ras oncogene codon 12 point mutations in testicular cancer

[Value of targeted treatment for testicular cancer: from molecular approaches to clinical possibilities]

Due to the introduction of tyrosine kinase-inhibitors in the treatment of metastatic renal cell cancer, targeted therapy raises hopes for other urological tumors as well. Even if excellent cure rates, achieved by standardization of diagnosis und therapy, have made testicular cancer a curable disease, up to 6% of young patients still die from tumors refractory to therapy. The quality of life of patients in advanced stages needing aggressive treatment should be improved by new therapies with reduced side effects. The role of tyrosine kinase inhibitors and angiogenesis inhibitors as well as intervention in the cell cycle and induction of apoptosis are discussed.

Detection of hepatic micrometastasis in pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients by two-stage polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis

Hepatic metastasis and retroperitoneal recurrence generally are considered to be the two primary modes of recurrence in pancreatic cancer. The goal of this study was to determine if patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma have hepatic and peritoneal micrometastasis at operation. Pancreatic adenocarcinomas are known to have a high incidence of K-ras gene mutations. Liver tissue specimens were obtained from 30 patients (17 with pancreatic adenocarcinoma and 13 with other diseases) with a biopsy needle at operation. Peritoneal washings were obtained during operation from 20 patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Two-stage polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis were used to detect K-ras oncogene mutation at codon 12. Thirteen of 17 pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients had K-ras gene mutations in the liver, whereas all 13 patients with other diseases did not. However, only two of 20 pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients revealed K-ras gene mutation in peritoneal lavage fluids. These results indicate the feasibility of detecting hepatic micrometastasis in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma, and imply that PCR/RFLP analysis may be of value in the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of hepatic metastasis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.