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Point mutations of the N‐ ras gene in the blood plasma DNA of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome or acute myelogenous leukaemia
Author(s) -
Vasioukhin Valeri,
Anker Philippe,
Maurice Pierre,
Lyautey Jacqueline,
Lederrey Christine,
Stroun Maurice
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2141.1994.tb04828.x
Subject(s) - bone marrow , polymerase chain reaction , point mutation , myelodysplastic syndromes , cancer research , mutation , myeloid , leukemia , medicine , gene mutation , gene , immunology , pathology , biology , genetics
Summary. Oncogene mutations are frequently found in several tumour types and, among these, point mutations of the ras gene are particularly significant. A predominance of N‐ ras mutations has been found in the bone marrow DNA of patients with myelodysplatic syndrome (MDS) or acute myelogenous leukaemia (AML). On the other hand, increased levels of plasma DNA have previously been observed in patients suffering from various malignant diseases. In the present work we have investigated, by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), point mutations of the N‐ ras gene in the DNA of plasma, blood cells and bone marrow of 10 patients suffering from AML or MDS. The different ras mutations detected in five cases were always present in the plasma DNA while sometimes absent in the DNA of peripheral blood cells or bone marrow. This indicates that a bone marrow biopsy or aspiration does not necessarily contain all the malignant clones involved in the disease. Plasma could thus prove to be an easily accessible and useful material for detection and monitoring of myeloid disorders.