Prediction of Biologic Aggressiveness in Colorectal Cancer by p53/K-ras-2 Topographic Genotyping

Background: Topographic genotyping is a system of solid tissue molecular analysis designed to correlate microscopic alterations with specific forms of gene damage. In this system, microscopic targets are selected on the basis of cellular and immunohistochemical features. Minute tissue samples corresponding to these targets are precisely removed and analyzed for the presence and specific type of oncogene/tumor suppressor gene damage by means of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by DNA sequencing. In this study, topographic genotyping was used to investigate the prognostic value of p53 and K-ras-2 mutational damage in 204 patients with colorectal cancer from two tertiary care centers. Methods and Results: The intensity and distribution of p53 immunohistochemical staining were correlated with the presence and specific type of mutational change, which resulted in a better understanding of the highly variable nature of p53 immunostaining patterns. Molecular genotype was correlated with the depth and extent of colorectal cancer spread (Dukes B and C) and with survival for follow-up periods of up to 10 years. An algorithm for p53/K-ras-2 genotyping was formulated to include p53 immunohistochemistry and DNA sequencing both of p53 exons 5-8 and of K-ras-2 exons 1 and 2. By using this algorithm, survival was shown to be significantly better in those patients whose tumors manifested normal p53 and K-ras-2 genes (P >.01). Patients with p53-mutated tumors composed a poor prognostic group, characterized by a high rate of intra-abdominal recurrence in the form of peritoneal seeding. Patients with K-ras-2-mutated tumors also composed a poor prognostic group, marked by a tendency for distant hematogenous metastasis involving lung, bone, and brain. Conclusions: Topographic genotyping's molecular diagnostic approach to colorectal cancer combines immunohistochemistry, PCR, and DNA sequencing. It is informative, cost-effective, timely, and yet fully integrated with standard histopathology. The use of this approach by pathologists as a model system for molecular diagnosis of colorectal cancer and other forms of solid tumor malignancy is recommended. As new prognostic molecular lesions are documented for tumor progression and metastasis, topographic genotyping will be well suited to facilitate their clinical application.