The SAS proposals for participation in FP6 projects
are listed in blocks according to the FP6 priority theme structure



FP6 priority
1.1.1   Genomics and Biotechnology for Health
1.1.2.2
Title of the proposal

Detection of the mutated K-ras oncogene – potential marker in early diagnostic of pancreatic carcinoma

Institute
Slovak Academy of Sciences, Institute of Molecular Biology,
Dubravska cesta 21, 842 51 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
1st Clinic of Internal Medicine, Faculty Hospital,
Mickiewiczova 13, 813 72 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
imb.savba.sk
Contact
Name:
Ing. Jana UGORCAKOVA, CSc.
Phone:
+421 2 59307429
E-mail:
umbiugri@savba.sk


Research subject for a potential FP6 project

Pancreatic carcinoma (PC) is one of the most critical problems of modern medicine because it has almost 100% mortality, high and still rising incidence. There is no reliable diagnostic method for early stages and thus less than 15% of patients are indicated for potentially curable operation. Consequently new diagnostic methods are intensively researched. Detection of point mutations of K-ras gene codon 12 is one of the most perspective. There is almost 100% occurrence of clearly defined mutations in this codon in pancreatic carcinoma and they seem to be highly specific for pancreatic malignancy if pathology of pancreas and biliary tract is concerned.Research project objectives will contribute to unresolved issues related to clinical use of K-ras gene. Determination of incidence of K-ras mutations will be realised in a clinical study of 60 patients with pancreatic carcinoma, chronic pancreatitis and tumours of biliary tract. This study can contribute to the issue of clinical significance of this potential marker of PC. Comparing sensitivity and specificity of K-ras mutation detection in two biological samples in the same patient i.e. duodenal lavage fluid (DLF) and secretin induced pure pancreatic juice (PPJ) may help answer the question of optimal biological sample collection method for genetic examination.


Recent international cooperation of the research team

-Institute of Hereditary Metabolic Disorders of 1st Medical Faculty of Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic, Medical Faculty of Westfal University, Muenster, Germany, Institute of Pathology of Maastricht (Limburg) University, Netherlands


Proposerīs relevant publications related to the research subject

Machiels, B.M., Ruers, T., Lindhout, M., Hardy, K., Hlavaty, T., Bang, D.D., Somers, V.A.M.C., Baeten, C., von Meyenfeldt, M., Thunnissen, F.B.J.M. New protocol for DNA extraction of stool. BIOTECHNIQUES FEB 2000, 28 (2): 286-290.
Schaefer L., Hauser H., Altenburger M., Ugorcakova J., August Ch., Fisher L., Schaefer R.M., Kresse H. (1998) Decorin, biglycan and their endocytosis receptor in rat renal cortex. Kidney Int., 54, 1529-1541.
Duris, I., Hruby, D., Pekarkova, B., Huorka, M., Cernakova, E., Bezayova, T., Ondrejka, P.: Calcium chemoprevention in colorectal cancer. HEPATO-GASTROENTEROLOGY, 1996 Jan-Feb. 43(7): 152-154.