K-RAS mutation profile in Puerto Rican patients with colorectal cancer: trends from April 2009 to January 2011

Int J Biol Markers. 2013 Dec 17;28(4):e393-7. doi: 10.5301/JBM.5000043.

Abstract

The frequency of K-RAS mutations ranges between 30% and 48% among the Caucasian, Asian, and European populations and these mutations are predictors of response to EGFR therapies. We sought to determine the expression of K-RAS gene mutations among colorectal cancer patients in PuertoRico. A retrospective study was conducted to determine the expression of mutant K-RAS among colorectal cancer patients in Puerto Rico between April 2009 and January 2011. The mutant expression of K-RAS was found in 39% (n=195) of the Puerto Rican population, and was more common in the age group of 51-69 years (53.8%) and in males (55.4%, p>0.05). Moreover, mutant K-RAS was more commonly found in tumors of the proximal area (43.8%; p=0.03), with distant metastasis (43.3%, p=0.018), with a mucinous histotype (31.7% p>0.05), and in ulcerated tumors (38.8%, p>0.05). K-RAS mutations were observed on codon 12 (87.7%) and codon 13 (12.3%). The most frequent mutation on codon 12 was 12 ASP (39.5%), followed by 12 VAL (25.4%) that is associated with a significant decrease in overall cancer survival. The mutant expression of K-RAS in cases of rectum carcinoma was 39.5%, where the most common mutation was 12 VAL (37.5%). The frequency of K-RAS mutations in the Puerto Rican population here studied was 39% and mutant K-RAS was associated with advanced colorectal cancer stage, mucinous histotype, and ulcerated tumors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / epidemiology*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Genes, ras*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutation*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)
  • Puerto Rico / epidemiology
  • ras Proteins / genetics*

Substances

  • KRAS protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)
  • ras Proteins