DNA and RNA Alterations Associated with Colorectal Peritoneal Metastases: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Genomics
• Cancer Metastasis

Background:

• Colorectal cancer (CRC) with peritoneal metastases (PM) has a poor prognosis, necessitating novel treatment strategies.
• Identifying predictive biomarkers in primary tumors can aid in early risk stratification and treatment selection for CRC patients.
• Genomic alterations in primary tumors are being explored for their potential to predict distant metastatic spread.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review existing DNA and RNA alterations in primary CRC tumors associated with peritoneal metastases (PM).
• To identify specific gene mutations that require further investigation as potential biomarkers for CRC metastasis.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review adhering to PRISMA guidelines was conducted.
• Studies reporting genomic analyses on primary CRC tumor tissue in relation to PM were included.
• Data from 32 studies encompassing 18,906 patients were analyzed.

Main Results:

• BRAF mutations were the most frequently studied (17 articles), with 10 finding a significant association with PM.
• No significant association with PM was found for other reported genes.
• Broader cancer panel analyses did not identify new predictive biomarkers for CRC peritoneal metastasis.

Conclusions:

• Current evidence does not establish a definitive association between specific primary tumor biomarkers and peritoneal spread in CRC.
• The role of BRAF mutations in predicting colorectal cancer peritoneal metastases requires further investigation.
• Continued research is necessary to discover novel biomarkers for predicting metastatic potential in CRC.