CYTOPLASMIC-MEMBRANE EGFR PREDICTS EXPANDED RAS MUTATION STATUS IN COLORECTAL CARCINOMAS?

• Published in: Arquivos brasileiros de cirurgia digestiva : ABCD 2021-01, Vol.34 (1)
• Main Authors: PINTO, Thiago David Alves, ALVES, Thaís David das Neves, PINTO, Sebastião Alves, OLIVEIRA, Enio Chaves
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Colorectal cancer; Epidermal growth factor receptor; Mutation; Original; Ras genes
• ISSN: 0102-6720; 2317-6326
• DOI: 10.1590/0102-672020210001e1574

ABSTRACT Background: Inhibitors of the epidermal growth factor (EGFR) represent an effective therapeutic option for patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma, free of activating mutations in KRAS and NRAS. However, the research of mutations is of high cost and scarcely accessible. The expression of the EGFR by immunohistochemistry predicting the mutation status of the expanded RAS (KRAS and NRAS), may allow treatment by a diagnostic method less costly and more accessible. Aim: Investigate the correlation between the clinical-pathological data, the cytoplasmic-membrane expression of the EGFR and the mutational status of the expanded RAS. Method: A total of 139 patients with colorectal carcinoma from the archives of Instituto Goiano de Oncologia e Hematologia were evaluated. Results: Mutation of the expanded RAS was detected in 78 (56.1%) cases. The EGFR expression was stratified in 23 (16.5%) “positive”, 49 (35.2%) "negative" and 67 (48.2%) "uncertain". No significant correlation was found between the mutational status of the RAS and the EGFR expression in comparison to age, gender, location, histological type, histological grade and stage. From 23 "positive” cases, 21 (91.3%) showed wild-type RAS gene, and 49 "negative”, 41 (83.7%) presented mutation, resulting in a strong association between EGFR "positive", "negative” groups and the mutational status of the RAS (p