Comprehensive characterization of RAS mutations in colon and rectal cancers in old and young patients

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is increasingly appreciated as a heterogeneous disease, with factors such as microsatellite instability (MSI), cancer subsite within the colon versus rectum, and age of diagnosis associated with specific disease course and therapeutic response. Activating oncogenic mutations in KRAS and NRAS are common in CRC, driving tumor progression and influencing efficacy of both cytotoxic and targeted therapies. The RAS mutational spectrum differs substantially between tumors arising from distinct tissues. Structure-function analysis of relatively common somatic RAS mutations in G12, Q61, and other codons is characterized by differing potency and modes of action. Here we show the mutational profile of KRAS, NRAS, and the less common HRAS in 13,336 CRC tumors, comparing the frequency of specific mutations based on age of diagnosis, MSI status, and colon versus rectum subsite. We identify mutation hotspots, and unexpected differences in mutation spectrum, based on these clinical parameters.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Aug 19, 2019
Source ID
10.1038/s41467-019-11530-0

Entities

People

  • Caitlin Connelly
  • Christopher H Lieu
  • Elizabeth Handorf
  • Erica Golemis
  • Garrett M Frampton
  • Ilya G. Serebriiskii
  • Jeffrey S Ross
  • Joshua E Meyer
  • Justin Newberg
  • Matthew Cooke
  • Sanjeevani Arora
  • Siraj Ali
  • Vince Miller

Organizations

  • Center for Information Technology
  • Colorectal Cancer Alliance
  • National Cancer Institute
  • United States Department of Defense

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Gulf War Illness and Chronic Multisymptom Illness in Veterans.
  • Molecular Genetics
  • Molecular and Cellular Biology