title: KRAS genotyping as biomarker in colorectal cancer: a comparison of three commercial kits on histologic material.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The crucial role of KRAS status in new colorectal cancer target therapy raises the issue regarding which testing method to use. This study analysed 112 formalin fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) metastatic tissue samples using three different commercially available kits.
  
  
  METHODS
  A group of 40 KRAS wild-type (wt), 40 codon 12-mutated and 32 codon-13 mutated samples, previously evaluated by real-time PCR (TheraScreen kit), used as reference method, were analysed by Ampli-set-K-RAS and K-RAS StripAssay kit (herein called kit A and B, respectively) based on two different technologies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sensitivity of both kits was 92.5% for wt samples, 100% and 95.0% for kit A and B, respectively for samples mutated in codon 12. The specificity was 100% for both kits for all groups of samples. After a minor modification of the kit A method, its specificity reached 100%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  of low cost and easy to use, kit A may be suitable for use in a routine diagnostic setting.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biochemistry, Scientific Institute for Digestive Disease, IRCCS Saverio de Bellis Via Turi 27, 70013-Castellana Grotte, BA, Italy. cavaldo@libero.it
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cavallini
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Valentini
authors.forename: Catia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lippolis
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Campanella
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.forename: Maria Lucia
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Caruso
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D003062:Codon; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D011905:Genes, ras; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D016612:Paraffin Embedding; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D011934:Reagent Strips; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D003062:Codon; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D011934:Reagent Strips