title: Correlation between the presence of KRAS mutation and the morphometric characteristics of colorectal carcinoma cell nuclei.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether there is an association between KRAS status and changes in nuclear morphometric properties.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 60 cases were included in the analysis. Thirty cases carried a mutated KRAS oncogene, while 30 bore a wild-type KRAS gene. Computerized morphometry was used to measure various nuclear indices of size, shape, and texture.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nuclear ellipticity (p = 0.02) and chromatin textural contrast (p = 0.02) were both significantly higher in the mutated KRAS group. However, chromatin contrast was the only independent predictor of KRAS status. A ROC analysis detected a best chromatin contrast cutoff point of 798, with a sensitivity of 89.7% and a specificity of 52%. Tumor grade was also associated with nuclear ellipticity (p = 0.001). Yet, no association was found between tumor grade and KRAS status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that the presence of a KRAS mutation in colorectal carcinoma is associated with alterations in the nuclear morphometric properties of contrast and ellipticity.
authors.forename: Ariel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Greenberg
authors.forename: Dov
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hershkovitz
authors.forename: Edmond
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sabo
mesh_terms: D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000473:pathology*; D002843:Chromatin / Q000473:pathology*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D016208:Databases, Factual; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008954:Models, Biological; D009154:Mutation; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; C117307:KRAS protein, human; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); D018631:ras Proteins