Clinical validation of coexisting driver mutations in colorectal cancers
Journal
Human Pathology
Journal Volume
86
Pages
12-20
Date Issued
2019
Author(s)
Abstract
Mutational profiling is recommended for selecting targeted therapy and predicting prognosis of metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). Detection of coexisting mutations within the same pathway, which are usually mutually exclusive, raises the concern for potential laboratory errors. In this retrospective study for quality assessment of a next-generation sequencing assay, we examined BRAF, KRAS, and NRAS genes within the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway and the PIK3CA gene within the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (mTOR) pathway in 744 CRC specimens submitted to our clinical diagnostics laboratory. Although coexistence of mutations between the MAPK and mTOR pathways was observed, it rarely occurred within the MAPK pathway. Retrospective quality assessments identified false detection of coexisting activating KRAS and NRAS mutations in 1 specimen and confirmed 2 activating KRAS mutations in 2 specimens and coexisting activating KRAS and NRAS mutations in 2 specimens, but no coexisting activating RAS and BRAF mutations. There were 15 CRCs with a kinase-impaired BRAF mutation, including 3 with a coexisting activating KRAS mutation, which may have therapeutic implications. Multiregional analysis based on different histologic features demonstrated that coexisting KRAS and NRAS mutations may be present in the same or different tumor populations and showed that invasion of adenomas by synchronous adenocarcinomas of different clonal origin may result in detection of coexisting mutations within the MAPK pathway. In this study, we proposed an operating procedure for clinical validation of unexpected coexisting mutations. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the biological significance and clinical implications of coexisting mutations within the MAPK pathway. ? 2018 Elsevier Inc.
Subjects
BRAF; Coexisting mutation; Colorectal cancer; KRAS; NRAS; PIK3CA
SDGs
Other Subjects
B Raf kinase; K ras protein; mammalian target of rapamycin; mitogen activated protein kinase; phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase; pik3ca protein; protein; unclassified drug; B Raf kinase; guanosine triphosphatase; KRAS protein, human; membrane protein; NRAS protein, human; protein p21; Article; carcinogenesis; clonal variation; colon adenocarcinoma; colorectal adenoma; gene frequency; gene mutation; human; human tissue; major clinical study; MAPK signaling; molecular pathology; mTOR signaling; next generation sequencing; oncogene N ras; pyrosequencing; rectum carcinoma; retrospective study; tumor invasion; allele; colorectal tumor; dna mutational analysis; genetics; high throughput sequencing; mutation; pathology; Alleles; Colorectal Neoplasms; DNA Mutational Analysis; Gene Frequency; GTP Phosphohydrolases; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; Humans; Membrane Proteins; Mutation; Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf; Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); Retrospective Studies
Publisher
W.B. Saunders
Type
journal article