Specific c-K-ras gene mutations as a tumor-response marker in locally advanced rectal cancer treated with preoperative chemoradiotherapy.
BACKGROUND
Forty percent of patients with colorectal cancer develop mutations in the K-ras gene.


OBJECTIVE
Our objective was to evaluate whether the presence of c-K-ras gene mutations is a useful tumor-response marker in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer treated with preoperative chemoradiotherapy.


METHODS
Thirty seven patients with locally advanced rectal cancer were treated with preoperative chemoradiotherapy. Four to six weeks later, surgery was performed. Specimens were classified according to the UICC-AJC classification. A segment of the tumor was obtained to analyze specific c-K-ras gene mutations. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and single strand confirmation polymorphism (SSCP) techniques were used with a set of probes to detect specific c-K-ras mutations in codons 12, 13, and 61. The 37 patients were divided into Group A (with mutations) and Group B (without mutations).


RESULTS
All 37 patients completed the scheduled treatment. Group A consisted of 12 patients, whose tumors were classified and specific c-K-ras mutations were located as follows: eight in codon 12, two in codon 13, and one in codon 61. Group B consisted of 25 patients. The tumors were classified and there were more early-stage tumors in Group A, whereas in Group B there were more advanced-stage tumors (P = .05, respectively). The mean follow-up was 36.2+/-18.3 months. All Group A patients survived, whereas 8 of the 25 patients in Group B died due to progressive metastatic disease. Survival in Group A was 100%, whereas in Group B it was 59% (P = .03).


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of specific c-K-ras mutations is an indicator of tumor response in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer treated with preoperative chemoradiotherapy and surgery. Therefore, responding patients may be more amenable to less radical surgical procedures based on c-K-ras mutations.
Luna-Pérez
P
P
Colorectal Service, Surgical Department, Hospital de Oncología, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, México DF. acnet_lunapp@infosel.net.mx
Segura
J
J
Alvarado
I
I
Labastida
S
S
Santiago-Payán
H
H
Quintero
A
A
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D011905:Genes, ras; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D018807:Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D016019:Survival Analysis
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D005819:Genetic Markers