Point mutation at codon 12 of c-Ki-ras oncogene was tested from 2 normal human pancreas, 7 pancreatic endocrine neoplasms and 15 pancreatic adenocarcinomas, including 5 resected pancreatic adenocarcinomas, 3 cell lines of pancreatic adenocarcinoma and 7 nude mice transplanted tumors by dot blot and single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) after PCR amplification, c-Ki-ras codon 12 point mutation was found only in pancreatic adenocarcinomas (11/15 by dot blot and 13/15 by SSCP). No mutation was detected in normal human pancreatic tissue and endocrine tumors. By our experience, SSCP is more convenient and faster than dot blot in detecting gene mutation. Point mutation at codon 12 of c-Ki-ras oncogene may play an important role in the development of human pancreatic carcinoma.