Analysis of K-ras codon 12 and TP53 mutations in patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common types of cancer, affecting 3 - 5% of the global population. K-ras protooncogene and TP53 tumour suppressor gene mutations are among the most common genetic alterations detected in advanced colorectal tumours. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of K-ras codon 12 and TP53 exons 5 - 9 mutations in late-stage CRC patients. METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 249 CRC patients, of whom 147 presented with advanced carcinoma. K-ras codon 12 mutations were analysed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism, while direct sequencing was used in screening for TP53 exons 5 - 9 mutations. RESULTS: No significant changes were observed in TP53 exons 5 - 9, except for two cases in which nucleotide replacements were observed in the non-coding regions in intron 4 (c.376-19C>T) and intron 9 (c.993+12T>C). Heterozygous mutations in K-ras codon 12 were observed in 79 individuals suffering from advanced CRC (53.7%). Colon and rectal tumours were equally distributed among the heterozygotes, but colon tumours were mostly present in wild-type homozygotes (84.6%). There was also a predominance of Caucasians among heterozygotes and a predominance of Asians among the wild-type homozygotes. CONCLUSION: Analysis of peripheral blood samples of CRC patients suffering from advanced carcinoma has prognostic value only for K-ras codon 12 mutations, and not for TP53 mutations.

[The lymphocyte acetylcholinesterase activity in rats poisoned by pesticides]. / Aktivnost' atsetilkholinésterazy limfotsitov krys pri intoksikatsii pestitsidami.

The experiments carried out present the evidence of acetylcholinesterase activity of Wistar rat lymphocytes. It was shown that splenocytes and thymocytes had significantly different levels of the enzyme activity. Peroral administration of phosphor-organic pesticide antio (phormothion) 1/100 and 1/20 LD50 induced the dose-dependent inhibition of splenocyte acetylcholine-esterase activity after 2 months of treatment. It suggests the relation of the immunosuppressive action of pesticide with the interference into the neuromediator mechanisms regulating the lymphoid cell function.