KRAS Mutations in Colorectal Adenocarcinoma: Incidence and Association with Histological Features with Particular...

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most frequent malignancy and the second cause of cancer-related death worldwide. CRC is characterized by morphologic and biological heterogeneity, and molecular profiling is required to select appropriate treatment in the metastatic setting. Mutations in KRAS are detected in approximately 40% of CRCs, with prognostic and predictive value, and with the most frequent being p.G12D. Nonetheless, there are few data on the morphologic features in KRAS-mutated CRCs.

We retrospectively collected clinicopathological features and molecular profiles of CRCs in a multicenter cohort.

A total of 2816 patients from 12 centers were included. KRAS mutation was found in 47.4% of cases; Gly12Asp was detected in 23.9%, with different mutation frequencies between centers. Clinicohistological features associated with Gly12Asp mutation included younger patient age (≤70 years of age), higher prevalence in males (58.6%), NOS histotype (87.1%), low pathologic grade (73.9%), high grade budding-Bd3 (43.8%), and tumoral lympho-vascular invasion (68.9%).

Recent data have pinpointed the prognostic and predictive value of Gly12Asp mutation, and our results contribute to understanding its biology, with particular focus on peculiar clinicopathological features. Moreover, we found significant differences in pathology reports and assays for molecular profiling in different centers, which can affect a standardized therapeutic approach in CRC.