The relation of ras family oncogene expression to conventional staging criteria and clinical outcome in colorectal carcinoma.

The elevated levels of ras-related cellular RNA in a series of colorectal carcinomata (n = 12) was correlated with conventional staging criteria (tumour morphology and Dukes' staging) and with clinical outcome with particular reference to the development of metastatic disease. No direct relationship was evident between these parameters suggesting that although abnormal expression of ras oncogenes may be critical in the development of malignancy, variations in the level of their expression do not appear to be directly related to clinically evident phenotypic differences.