Cigarette smoking is strongly associated with mutation of the K-ras gene in patients with primary adenocarcinoma of the lung

Steven A. Ahrendt, P. Anthony Decker, Enas A. Alawi, Yong Ran Zhu, Montserrat Sanchez-Cespedes, Stephen C. Yang, George B. Haasler, Andre Kajdacsy-Balla, Michael J. Demeure, David Sidransky

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

372 Scopus citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND. The majority of lung carcinoma cases occur in current or former smokers. K-ras gene mutations are common in lung adenocarcinoma and have been associated with cigarette smoking, asbestos exposure, and female gender. METHODS. In the current study, the authors examined the contribution of cigarette smoking to K-ras gene mutations in patients with primary lung adenocarcinoma. Smoking histories were obtained from 106 prospectively enrolled patients with primary adenocarcinoma of the lung. RESULTS. K-ras mutations were detected in the primary tumor using an allele-specific ligation assay. Ninety-two of the 106 patients (87%) with lung adenocarcinoma were smokers. Nonsmokers with this tumor were more likely to be women (11 of 14; 79%), whereas the majority of smokers (57%) were men. K-ras mutations were detected in 40 of 106 tumors (38%) and were significantly more common in smokers compared with nonsmokers (43% vs. 0%; P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS. The results of the current study confirm and extend previous observations that smokers with adenocarcinoma of the lung are more likely to have K-ras mutant tumors compared with nonsmokers. The strong link between cigarette smoking and K-ras mutations in adenocarcinoma of the lung supports the role of specific tobacco carcinogens in the etiology of this malignancy.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1525-1530
Number of pages6
JournalCancer
Volume92
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 15 2001

Keywords

  • Cigarette smoking
  • K-ras
  • Lung carcinoma
  • Nonsmall cell lung carcinoma

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Cigarette smoking is strongly associated with mutation of the K-ras gene in patients with primary adenocarcinoma of the lung'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this