Clinical utility of comprehensive genomic profiling test for colorectal cancer: a single institution prospective...

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has revolutionized cancer treatment by enabling comprehensive cancer genomic profiling (CGP) to guide genotype-directed therapies. While several prospective trials have demonstrated varying outcomes with CGP in patients with advanced solid tumors, its clinical utility in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains to be evaluated.

We conducted a prospective observational study of CGP in our hospital between September 2019 and March 2024. Overall survival (OS) of the patients who received CGP-based therapy and those did not was compared, and genomic variables associated with OS were evaluated.

A total of 100 patients with CRC underwent CGP using four platforms. The median patient age was 67 years, and most had a good performance status. The most frequent genomic alterations were TP53 (82%), APC (82%), and KRAS (55%). Actionable mutations such as ERBB2 amplification and BRAF V600E were identified in some patients, and 9% received CGP-based therapy, including immune checkpoint inhibitors for tumor mutational burden-high or microsatellite instability-high tumors. Patients receiving CGP-based therapy had longer OS from expert panel discussion (16.0 vs. 10.8 months) compared to those who did not. Alterations in TP53, SMAD4, and NF1 were associated with worse OS. Interestingly, PTEN mutations were linked to improved survival. TP53 alterations were more common in left-sided CRC.

Although some patients with CRC received CGP-guided therapy, a statistically significant survival benefit was not observed. However, TP53 and SMAD4 mutations were identified as negative prognostic markers, indicating their potential as targets for future drug development.