Analysis of KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, PIK3CA and TP53 mutations in a large prospective series of locally advanced rectal cancer patients

Francesco Sclafani, Sanna Hulkki Wilson, David Cunningham, David Gonzalez De Castro, Eleftheria Kalaitzaki, Ruwaida Begum, Andrew Wotherspoon, Jaume Capdevila, Bengt Glimelius, Susana Roselló, Janet Thomas, Daina Tait, Gina Brown, Jacqui Oates, Ian Chau

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Abstract

Little information is available on the clinical significance of cancer-related genes such as KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, PIK3CA and TP53 in non-metastatic rectal cancer. We investigated mutations of these genes in a large prospective series of locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) patients who were recruited into two phase II trials. Mutational analyses were performed with diagnostically validated methods including polymerase chain reaction, capillary electrophoresis-single strand conformational analysis, Sanger sequencing and next-generation sequencing. Associations between single or multiple gene mutations and clinico-pathological characteristics and treatment outcomes were explored. 210/269 (78%) patients were assessable. Mutations of KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, PIK3CA and TP53 occurred in 43%, 9%, 4%, 9% and 60% of patients, respectively. Concordance between paired biopsy and resection specimens was 82% for KRAS, 95% for NRAS, 99% for BRAF, 96% for PIK3CA and 63% for TP53. TP53 mutations were associated with extramural venous invasion on baseline MRI (78% vs 65%, p=0.04), good pathological tumour regression (36% vs 23%, p=0.05) and a trend towards a better 5-year progression-free survival (74% vs 60%, HR 1.59, p=0.06). Patients with tumours harbouring mutation of TP53 and either KRAS or NRAS (32%) had a worse 5-year progression-free survival than those with TP53/KRAS/NRAS wild-type tumours (54% vs 72%, HR 1.75, p=0.02). In univariate analysis BRAF mutation predicted poor 5-year overall survival only among patients treated without cetuximab (20% vs 73%, HR 3.29, p=0.03). This is one of the largest biomarker studies in a prospective, largely homogeneous, LARC population. Our findings are hypothesis-generating and require validation in independent series. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Original languageEnglish
JournalInternational Journal of Cancer
Early online date14 Jun 2019
DOIs
Publication statusEarly online date - 14 Jun 2019

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This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

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