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K-RAS MUTATIONS IN LUNG CARCINOMAS FROM NONSMOKING WOMEN EXPOSED TO UNVENTED COAL SMOKE IN CHINA
Citation:
Keohavong, P., Q. Lan, W. Gao, D M. DeMarini, M J. Mass, X. M. Li, B C. Roop, J. Weissfeld, D. Tian, AND J L. Mumford. K-RAS MUTATIONS IN LUNG CARCINOMAS FROM NONSMOKING WOMEN EXPOSED TO UNVENTED COAL SMOKE IN CHINA. CANCER EPIDEMIOLOGY, BIOMARKERS, AND PREVENTION 41(1):21-27, (2002).
Description:
Abstract Lung cancer mortality rate in nonsmoking women in Xuan Wei (XW) County is the highest in China. The XW lung cancer rate is associated with exposure to coal smoke, containing high concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PARs), in unvented homes. Here we restigated codon 12 KRAS mutations in lung tumors or sputum samples from 102 XW lung cancer patients ( 41 nonsmoking women and 61 smoking men). In addition, we analyzed specimens from 50 lung cancer patients (14 nonsmoking women, 36 smoking men and 3 nonsmoking men), from Beijing and Henan (B&H), where natural gas is the main domestic fuel. US mutations were found in 9 women (21.9%) and 14 men (22.9%) from XW, with G to T nsversions accounting for 66.7% and 85.7%, respectively. Among B&H patients, 1 woman 1%) and 6 men (16.7%) had KRAS mutations, with G to T transversions accounting for 66.7% the mutations in the men. Therefore, the frequency and type of KRAS mutations in XW nonsmoking women are similar to those of KRAS mutations found in both XW and B&H smoking men. On the other hand, the mutation frequency in XW women is higher than, although t statistically significant from, that in the B&H nonsmoking women (p = 0.28, two-sided Fisher's Exact Test), or those reported previously for nonsmoking lung cancer patients. These
results suggest an association between exposure to coal smoke and the increased KRAS mutation frequency in XW nonsmoking female lung cancer patients. They also suggest that the mutagens and/or mechanisms of mutations in these nonsmoking women are similar to those responsible for KRAS mutations in cigarette smoking lung cancer patients, which are probably induced largely by chemicals such as P AHs.