title: KRAS mutation detection in colorectal cancer by a commercially available gene chip array compares well with Sanger sequencing.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Binding of a ligand to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) stimulates various intracellular signaling pathways resulting in cell cycle progression, proliferation, angiogenesis and apoptosis inhibition. KRAS is involved in signaling pathways including RAF/MAPK and PI3K and mutations in this gene result in constitutive activation of these pathways, independent of EGFR activation. Seven mutations in codons 12 and 13 of KRAS comprise around 95% of the observed human mutations, rendering monoclonal antibodies against EGFR (e.g. cetuximab and panitumumab) useless in treatment of colorectal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  KRAS mutation testing by two different methodologies was compared; Sanger sequencing and AutoGenomics INFINITI® assay, on DNA extracted from colorectal cancers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 29 colorectal tumor samples tested, 28 were concordant between the two methodologies for the KRAS mutations that were detected in both assays with the INFINITI® assay detecting a mutation in one sample that was indeterminate by Sanger sequencing and a third methodology; single nucleotide primer extension.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicates the utility of the AutoGenomics INFINITI® methodology in a clinical laboratory setting where technical expertise or access to equipment for DNA sequencing does not exist.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94107, USA. deborah.french@ucsf.edu
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: French
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Martin P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Powers
authors.forename: Alan H B
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics; D011905:Genes, ras; D006801:Humans; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D009154:Mutation; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D066246:ErbB Receptors