Analysis of KRAS, NRAS and BRAF mutations in colorectal cancer and their correlation with clinicopathologic features and p53 protein expression

doi:10.16150/j.1671-2870.2018.06.012

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: To examine the mutation frequencies of KRAS, NRAS and BRAF in colorectal cancer (CRC) among Chinese population, and to investigate their correlation with clinicopathological parameters and p53 protein expression. Methods: Tissue samples and pathological data of 110 CRC patients undergoing surgical excision were collected, and the clinical pathological features were summarized. Mutations in KRAS (codon 12/13 at exon 2, codon 61 at exon 3 and codon 117/146 at exon 4), NRAS (codon 12/13 at exon 2, codon 61 at exon 3 and codon 146 at exon 4) and BRAF (codon 600 at exon 15) genes were examined with ARMS-PCR. p53 protein expression was detected by immunohistochemistry. Results: 45.4% (50/110) patients carried KRAS mutations; among them, almost all individuals had mutation in KRAS codon 12/13 at exon 2, except one individual had codon 117/146 at exon 4 mutated. 6.3% (7/110) patients carried NRAS mutations; among them, 3/110 patients had mutation in NRAS exon 2 (condon 12/13), 3/110 patients had mutation in NRAS exon 3 (condon 61), 1/110 patient had mutations in both NRAS exon 4 (condon 146) and KRAS. BRAF mutations were detected in 3 patients (2.7%), and were found to have V600E mutations. p53 expression was observed in 63 (57.3%) of 110 CRC patients. Within these 63 positive samples, 27 cases showed KRAS mutations, 7 cases showed NRAS mutations and 2 cases showed BRAF mutations. KRAS mutation was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis (P<0.05) while NRAS mutation was significantly associated with histological type and p53 protein expression (P<0.05). BRAF mutation was significantly associated with right colon cancer (P<0.05). Conclusions: KRAS is closely related to the molecular mechanism of occurrence and development of colorectal cancer. BRAF mutation is only found in right colon cancer, suggesting that the mechanism of right hemicolon cancer may have its particularity. The interaction between p53 protein expression and NRAS mutation is worthy of further study.

Key words: Colorectal cancer, KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, P53

CLC Number:

R735.3⁺5

WANG Ziyuan, LIANG Tingyu, CHEN Jia, HAN Zhihong, WU Lili. Analysis of KRAS, NRAS and BRAF mutations in colorectal cancer and their correlation with clinicopathologic features and p53 protein expression[J]. Journal of Diagnostics Concepts & Practice, 2018, 17(06): 687-693.

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