Lack of Relationship Between Clinical Features and KRAS Mutations in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Abstract

Background/aim: We previously identified three clinical predictive factors of efficacy of cetuximab-irinotecan. Here, we analyzed the clinical characteristics of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) in order to detect potent correlations with KRAS mutations.

Patients and methods: We conducted a retrospective, multicenter study between 2008 and 2012. We included patients with metastatic colorectal adenocarcinomas, previously treated by irinotecan, and with an available KRAS mutation test.

Results: We included 299 patients. The median age was 60 years; the median number of metastatic sites was 2. One hundred and eight patients (36.1%) had a previous objective response to irinotecan. The median interval between diagnosis and irinotecan discontinuation was 1.94 years. A KRAS mutation was detected in 133 patients (44.5%). In univariate and multivariate analyses, none of the assessed factors was associated with the presence of a KRAS mutation.

Conclusion: No easily clinically assessable parameter was significantly associated with KRAS mutations in patients with colorectal cancer.

Keywords: Predictive factor; cetuximab; delay of introduction; irinotecan; number of metastatic sites.