KRAS Status is Associated with Metabolic Parameters in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer According to Primary Tumour Location

• Published in: Pathology oncology research Vol. 26; no. 4; pp. 2537 - 2548
• Main Authors: Tabuso, M., Christian, M., Kimani, P. K., Gopalakrishnan, K., Arasaradnam, R. P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.10.2020; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Cancer; Cancer Research; Cholesterol; Colorectal cancer; Colorectal carcinoma; Diabetes mellitus; Diagnosis; High density lipoprotein; Immunology; K-Ras protein; Lipids; Metabolic syndrome; Metabolism; Metastases; Metastasis; Oncology; Original; Original Article; Pathology; Patients; Statistical analysis; Survival; Tumor microenvironment; Tumors; Tumour location; Lipids; KRAS; Metabolic syndrome; Colorectal cancer
• ISSN: 1219-4956; 1532-2807
• DOI: 10.1007/s12253-020-00850-y

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is characterized by complex interplay between macroenvironmental factors and tumour microenvironment, leading to variable outcomes in CRC patients. To date, there is still a need to identify macroenvironment/microenvironment factors that could define subgroup of patients that would benefit from specific anti-cancer treatment in order to improve patient selection for individualized targeted-based therapy. Aim of this study was to evaluate associations between metabolic parameters and KRAS status in metastatic CRC (mCRC) according to a new tumour site classification. Retrospective data were extracted from a total of 201 patients diagnosed with mCRC between 2012 and 2017 extracted from an established CRC database at our tertiary institute. Clinical-pathological data, including age, gender, BMI, hypertension, diabetes, pre-CRC diagnosis serum lipid levels and KRAS status were recorded. Categorical characteristics were compared using chi-squared test. Continuous characteristics were compared using Mann-Whitney U test. Log rank test was used to compare hazards for survival. In all comparisons, a two-sided P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Out of 201 patients, 170 patients with complete serum lipid profile were included in the analysis. In recto-sigmoid cancers there was a statistically significant association between high cholesterol:high-density lipoprotein (chol:HDL) ratio and KRAS mutation (OR 2.69, 95% CI 1.1–6.4, p  = 0,02). In non recto-sigmoid cancers, high cholesterol was associated with KRAS WT (OR 0.39, CI 0.15–0.97, p  = 0.04). In 22 patients with KRAS mutated recto-sigmoid cancer stage IV at diagnosis normal chol:HDL ratio was associated with a trend to better survival ( p  = 0.06). High chol:HDL ratio was significantly associated with KRAS mutated metastatic recto-sigmoid cancers. A subgroup of mCRC patients with KRAS mutated recto-sigmoid cancer may benefit from optimal lipid lowering treatment.