The Kras mutational spectra of chemically induced lung tumors in different inbred mice mimics the spectra of KRAS mutations in adenocarcinomas in smokers versus nonsmokers.

Background: Human lung cancer patients exhibit different KRAS mutations depending on smoking status. In a mouse model of human cancer, A/J and BALB/cBy mice treated with the tobacco carcinogen, 3-methylcholanthrene (MCA), followed by butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)-elicited chronic inflammation develop a high multiplicity of lung tumors.

Methods: DNA was isolated from MCA-induced lung tumors in A/J and BALB/cByJ mice.