Detection of codon 61 point mutations of the K-ras gene in lung and colorectal cancers by enriched PCR.

Mutation of the Kirsten ras (K-ras) gene is one of most common alterations in solid tumors including lung and colorectal cancers. We developed new enriched PCR-RFLP assay to detect mutations of K-ras codon 61 at the 1st and 2nd letters and non-enriched PCR-RFLP assay to detect the 3rd letter mutation. One mutant allele among 10(3) wild-type alleles was detected by enriched PCR-RFLP assay, while one mutant in 10 wild-type alleles was detected by non-enriched PCR-RFLP assay for codon 61 3rd letter.