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DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1807908
KRAS gene mutations frequency and subtypes of colorectal cancer: an epidemiological study
Introduction: The KRAS gene is a proto-oncogene that encodes a protein involved in the RAS/MAPK signaling pathway, regulating cellular processes such as growth, proliferation, and survival. It plays a crucial role in the oncogenesis of various types of cancer, including colorectal cancer. Furthermore, colorectal cancer is the third cause of mortality worldwide among all cancers.
Objective: This study aimed to analyze the frequency of mutations in KRAS gene and different subtypes of colorectal cancer.
Method: This is a descriptive retrospective observational study to measure the frequency of KRAS gene mutations in colorectal cancer. We searched in the National Cancer Institute database the following search terms “KRAS gene”, “colorectal”, and “mutation”.
Results: A total of 412 KRAS mutations were found in 2936 cases of colorectal cancer, 53.4% in male and 46.6% in female. Most cases (399 patients) were also tested for Simple Somatic Mutations, the most frequent mutations found were in the G12D (n = 81, 20.3%), G12V (n = 66, 16.5%), and G13D (n = 47, 11.8%) proteins, all due a missense substitution. For the G12V mutation, 83.9% of cases were adenomas and adenocarcinomas (17.6% in the rectum, 1.5% in the rectosigmoid junction, and 80.9% in the colon); 14.8% were cysts and mucinous/serous neoplasms (16.7% in the rectum and 83.3% in the colon); and 1.2% were complex epithelial neoplasms in the colon. In G12V, 90.9% had adenomas and adenocarcinomas (16.7% in the rectum, 8.3% in the rectosigmoid junction, and 75% in the colon); 9.1% cyst and mucinous/serous neoplasm (16.7% in the rectum; 83.3% in the colon); and 1.5% neoplasm in the colon. For G13D, 89.4% of the cases were adenomas and adenocarcinomas (7.1% in the rectum, 14.3% in the rectosigmoid junction, and 78.6% in the colon); 8.5% cysts and mucinous/serous neoplasm (100% in the colon); and 2.1% neoplasm in the colon. The average lifespan for patients with the G12D, G12V, and G13D mutations were: 592, 485, and 320 days, respectively.
Conclusion: The KRAS gene mutations showed a higher prevalence of adenomas, adenocarcinomas, and mucinous/serous neoplasms in the colon. G13D, although less common, showed more adenomas in the rectosigmoid junction and a worse prognosis. These variations highlight the need to consider each mutation differently in the management of colorectal cancer.
Corresponding author: Giulia Di Credico Paranhos (e-mail: giulia.di@estudante.ufcg.edu.br).
No conflict of interest has been declared by the author(s).
Publication History
Article published online:
06 May 2025
© 2025. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
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Giulia Di Credico Paranhos, Letícia Bezerra de Almeida, Sarah Mahlmann de Araújo Muniz, Jeison Evangelista Neto, Maria Eduarda Moura Paulino, Fabricio Dantas Oliveira, Maria Beatriz Pitombeira de Azevedo Moreira, Angela Beatriz da Silva, Bright Owusu Ansah, Rayssa Shanaza da Silva Batista, Rodrigo Santana Leite, Tuanny Victória Fernandes Morais, Yasmin Nóbrega e Souza, Ruth Avernias Lopes de Avila, Ryan Marcos Xavier de Oliveira, Gabriel Soares Marques, Felipe Martins de Lima, Rogério Almeida Santos Filho, Anna Lis dos Santos Macedo Costa, Rafaella Barbosa Paiva, Giulia Carvalhal, Emanuella Maria Batista da Motta Pessoa, Kaline Kezia Piragibe Souto, Sywldson Marllon de Santana Moura, Isadora de Meira Melo, Catarina Ramalho dos Santos, Vicente Castor Brito, Lucas Brito Maracajá. KRAS gene mutations frequency and subtypes of colorectal cancer: an epidemiological study. Brazilian Journal of Oncology 2025; 21.
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1807908