K-ras Mutation and p16 and Preproenkephalin Promoter Hypermethylation in Plasma DNA of Pancreatic Cancer Patients

Abstract

These preliminary observations suggest that plasma DNA might be a useful surrogate in detecting genetic and epigenetic alterations of pancreatic cancer. The findings on the association between K-ras mutation and smoking were in consistency with previous studies. Further studies on environmental modulators of epigenetic changes in pancreatic cancer are warranted.