title: The KRAS mutation detection within the initial management of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: a status report in France in 2011.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The detection of KRAS mutations is mandatory to initiate an anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibody in the treatment of metastatic colorectal carcinoma (mCRC).
  
  
  METHODS
  This observational retrospective study was performed in 160 French centres during a 2-week period in 2011. Its main objective was to evaluate the rate of KRAS testing in patients with mCRC having initiated their first-line therapy. Secondary objectives included time of process, techniques used and reasons for non-prescription.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five hundred and thirty eight mCRC patients (67.1 ± 11.3 years, synchronous metastases: 69.9%) were enrolled in the study. KRAS testing was prescribed in 81.1% of patients, in a median of 15 days after the diagnosis of metastases, and of 15 days prior to the initiation of the first-line metastatic chemotherapy. KRAS status was available for 87% of patients, after 23.6 ± 28.2 days, but after the choice of the first-line therapy in 56.6% of patients. Heterogeneity of reception time was noteworthy within regions (8.3 ± 7 days to 38.8 ± 101 days). KRAS testing was not prescribed mainly due to the planned non-prescription of an anti-EGFR antibody.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study confirmed that KRAS testing is definitely part of the management of most of mCRC patients, despite discrepancies observed in the rate of prescription and the time of results.
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Department, René Huguenin Hospital, Institut Curie, 35 Rue Dailly, 92210 Saint-Cloud, France; University of Versailles Saint-Quentin en Yvelines, Faculty of Health Sciences, 45 Avenue des États Unis, 78000 Versailles, France. Electronic address: astrid.lievre@curie.net.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lièvre
authors.affiliation: Hepato-Gastro-Enterology and Digestive Oncology Department, Hopital Jean Mermoz, 55 Avenue Jean Mermoz, 69008 Lyon, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Artru
authors.affiliation: Anatomy-Pathology Office, 2 Avenue des Palmiers, 66006 Perpignan, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guiu
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Department, Hopital Européen Georges Pompidou, 20 Rue Leblanc, 75015 Paris, France; University of Paris Descartes, Faculty of Health Sciences, 12 Rue de l'École de Médecine, 75006 Paris, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Laurent-Puig
authors.affiliation: Biopathology Department, Centre Alexis Vautrin, 6 Avenue de Bourgogne, 54519 Nancy, France; University of Lorraine, 4 Rue de la Ravinelle, 54000 Nancy, France; CNRS UMR 7039, CRAN, Boulevard des Aiguillettes, 54506 Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Merlin
authors.affiliation: Anatomy and Pathological Cytology Department, CHU Charles Nicolle, 1 Rue de Germont, 76000 Rouen, France.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Sabourin
authors.affiliation: Hepato-Gastro-Enterology and Digestive Oncology Department, Hopital Trousseau, Avenue de la République, 37170 Chambray-lès-Tours, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Viguier
authors.affiliation: Oncology Unit, Merck-Serono, 37 Rue Saint-Romain, 69008 Lyon, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bastie
authors.affiliation: Oncology Unit, Merck-Serono, 37 Rue Saint-Romain, 69008 Lyon, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seronde
authors.affiliation: Gastro-Enterology Unit, Institut Gustave Roussy, 114 Rue Édouard Vaillant, 94800 Villejuif, France; Paris Sud University, 63 Rue Gabriel Péri, 94270 Le Kremlin Bicetre, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ducreux
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics*; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D011905:Genes, ras / Q000235:genetics*; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D066246:ErbB Receptors