Objective: Fifteen specimens of colorectal adenomas and 45 specimens of carcinomas and each of their normal mucosa were analyzed for the APC gene exon 15 MCR(mutation cluster region).
Methods: Gene mutation was examined by PCR-SSCP technique.
Results: In three out of 15 cases of adenomas(20.0%) and 10 out of 45 cases of carcinomas(22.2%), mutations at MCR was detected. In colorectal carcinoma, APC gene mutation was not related to size, location, histologic features and lymph node metastases. In MCR region, 1260-1359 codons gave a lowest mutation frequency, while 1339-1436 codons showed the highest mutation frequency.
Conclusion: APC gene mutation detected in colorecral adenomas indicates that the APC gene mutation is an early event in colorectal carcinogenesis. It helps early diagnosis of colorectal carcinoma.