Associations with other cancer-related biomarkers might contribute to poor outcomes in RAS-altered, younger patients with colorectal cancer

• Published in: The oncologist (Dayton, Ohio) Vol. 29; no. 9; pp. e1228 - e1230
• Main Authors: Kundranda, Madappa N, Kemkes, Ariane C, Evans, Mark C, Flannery, Cynthia A, Hall, David W, Hoag, Jess R, Therala, Nishitha, Thakkar, Snehal G, De La O, Jean-Paul
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Oxford University Press 17.06.2024
• Subjects: Brief Communication; MSI-high; genetic associations; RNF43; colorectal cancer; APC; RAS; genomics
• ISSN: 1083-7159; 1549-490X; 1549-490X
• DOI: 10.1093/oncolo/oyae153

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common cancer in younger adults. In patients undergoing liver resection with RAS-altered CRCs, there is evidence suggesting younger patients have worse outcomes than older patients. To explain this pattern, differences in associations between RAS status and other cancer-related biomarkers in tumors from younger versus older patients with CRC were evaluated in a cohort of 925 patients with CRC, 277 (30.0%) of whom were ≤50 years old, and 454 (49.1%) who had RAS-altered tumors. For 3 biomarkers, RNF43, APC, and microsatellite instability (MSI), the association with RAS status was significantly modified by age after adjustment for multiple testing. Specifically, younger patients with RAS-altered tumors were more likely to be MSI-high, RNF43 mutated, and APC wild type. These differences might contribute to the observed pattern of diminished survival in younger versus older patients with CRC with RAS-mutated tumors undergoing liver metastasis resection.