KRAS status in patients with colorectal cancer peritoneal carcinomatosis and its impact on outcome.

BACKGROUND

KRAS mutated colorectal cancers (CRC) are reported to be associated with a poor response to anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody therapy and poor prognosis. We studied the rates of KRAS mutated tumors in patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis from CRC and investigated the association of KRAS status with specific clinicopathologic factors.

METHODS

A retrospective observational study of tumor specimens from 23 patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis from CRC was performed using standard genomic DNA sampling techniques to identify KRAS mutations. Correlation between clinicopathologic factors and KRAS mutation status was performed using the Fisher exact test or χ test, as appropriate.

RESULTS

Eleven (48%) of 23 patients had KRAS mutations. There were no statistically significant correlations in patient demographics, tumor pathology, surgical evaluation, treatments, or survival outcomes for peritoneal carcinomatosis between patients with KRAS mutations or wild-type KRAS status.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of KRAS mutation in CRC patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis is 48% in this preliminary study and clinicopathologic factors appear to be independent of mutation status.