[KRAS gene mutation in colorectal cancer]

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Biology
• Genetics

Background:

• The KRAS oncogene plays a significant role in colorectal cancer development, implicated in 22-45% of cases.
• Understanding KRAS mutation patterns is crucial for targeted therapies in colorectal cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the frequency, specific types, and distribution of KRAS mutations within colorectal cancer.
• To analyze KRAS mutation profiles in both primary tumors and metastatic sites.

Main Methods:

• KRAS mutation analysis was performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues from 109 colorectal cancer patients (56 female, 53 male).
• Techniques employed included Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) and direct sequencing for mutation detection.

Main Results:

• KRAS mutations were identified in 42.2% of the colorectal cancer samples analyzed.
• The most frequent mutations occurred at codon 12 (80.4%), with G12D and G12V being the predominant types.
• Mutations at codon 13 (G13D) accounted for 19.6%, and no significant differences were observed based on gender, age, or tumor location (primary vs. metastatic).

Conclusions:

• This study confirms a high frequency of KRAS mutations (42%) in colorectal cancer, consistent with existing literature.
• The distribution of common KRAS mutations aligns with previous findings, with a notable exception in the frequency of the G12C mutation.