Decrease in specific micronutrient intake in colorectal cancer patients with tumors presenting Ki-ras mutation.
BACKGROUND
The diversity of the Mediterranean diet and the heterogeneity of acquired genetic alterations in colorectal cancer (CRC) led us to examine the possible association between dietary factors and mutations, such as Ki-ras mutations, in genes implicated in the pathogenesis of these neoplasms.


METHODS
The study was based on 246 cases and 296 controls. For the molecular study only 117 patients with Ki-ras tumor expression were included. Dietary patterns were assessed using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire.


RESULTS
Patients with Ki-ras mutations in codon 12 (K12) consumed significantly less vitamin A (p=0.02), B1 (p=0.01), D (p=0.02) and iron (p=0.03) than controls, whereas patients without these mutations had similar intakes of these nutrients to controls. The consumption of fiber, folate, vitamin E and potassium was lower in the two subgroups of patients (K12-positive or -negative) than in controls. Mutation in codon 13 was not associated with any nutrient deficit.


CONCLUSIONS
These results support previous findings that certain micronutrients protect against colorectal neoplasia and emphasize the importance of considering the different molecular forms of CRC as etiologically distinct diseases.
Department of Pharmacologys, School of Medicine, IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, Casanova 143, 08036 Barcelona, Spain.
Nuria
N
Laso
Sergi
S
Mas
M
M
Jose Lafuente
Xavier
X
Casterad
Manuel
M
Trias
Antonio
A
Ballesta
Rafael
R
Molina
Jordi
J
Salas
Carlos
C
Ascaso
Shichun
S
Zheng
John K
JK
Wiencke
Amalia
A
Lafuente
D000368:Aged; D001361:Avitaminosis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003043:Cocarcinogenesis; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D004032:Diet; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000172:deficiency; D005260:Female; D005494:Folic Acid Deficiency; D011905:Genes, ras / Q000235:genetics*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D008297:Male; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000172:deficiency*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D011191:Potassium Deficiency
D004043:Dietary Fiber; D018977:Micronutrients