KRAS as a prognostic marker for metastatic colorectal cancer: Qatar experience

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide and in Qatar. Kirsten Ras (KRAS) mutation occurs in 30%–50% of CRC cases in different geographical areas. A total of 104 metastatic CRC cases were tested for KRAS mutation from 2009–2013 at the National Center for Cancer Care and Research (NCCR), Qatar. The incidence of KRAS mutation was 42% versus that of the wild-type (58%). Wild-type KRAS metastatic CRC (mCRC) patients tend to have better survival and this was especially evident after they received anti-epithelial growth factor receptors targeted therapy. Meanwhile, mutant-type KRAS mCRC patients receiving anti-vascular endothelial growth factor were more inclined to have poor survival outcomes. To confirm the observation, more studies with larger sample populations and a longer follow-up duration are needed. To our best knowledge, this is the first known report of KRAS status and its impact on the prognosis of metastatic colorectal cancer.