 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| IJMEG Copyright © 2010-present. All rights reserved. Published by e-Century Publishing Corporation, Madison, WI 53711 |
J Mol Epidemiol Genet 2013;4(1):1-10
Original Article
KRAS gene mutations are more common in colorectal villous adeno-mas and
in situ carcinomas than in carcinomas
Peter Zauber, Stephen Marotta, Marlene Sabbath-Solitare
Department of Medicine, Saint Barnabas Medical Center Livingston, NJ 07039, USA; Department of Pathology, Saint Barnabas
Medical Cen-ter Livingston, NJ 07039, USA
Received February 8, 2013; Accepted February 27, 2013; Epub March 18, 2013; Published March 28, 2013
Abstract: We have evaluated the frequency of KRAS gene mutations during the critical transition from villous adenoma to
colorectal carcinoma to assess whether the adenomas contain a KRAS mutation more frequently than carcinomas. We
analyzed sporadic villous and tubulovillous adenomas, in situ carcinomas, and primary colorectal carcinomas from multiple
patients. The cancers were further evaluated for mucinous status and microsatellite instability. Standard PCR molecular
techniques were used for KRAS and microsatellite analyses. A KRAS mutation was found in 61.9% of 134 adenomas, 67.8% of
84 in situ carcinomas, and just 31.6% of 171 carcinomas. Our study clearly demonstrates that tubulovillous and villous
adenomas, as well as both the benign and malignant parts of in situ carcinomas, are statistically more likely to contain a
somatic KRAS gene mutation than colorectal carcinomas. This difference is confined to the non-mucinous and the
microsatellite stable tumors. Our data support the possibility that non-mucinous and microsatellite stable carcinomas with
wild-type KRAS gene may have had a mutation in the KRAS gene during their earlier stages, with the mutation lost during
further growth. (IJMEG1302002).
Keywords: KRAS gene, colorectal adenomas, colorectal carcinoma, microsatellite instability, tubulovillous adenoma, villous
adenoma
Address correspondence to: Dr. Peter Zauber, Department of Medicine, Saint Barnabas Medical Center, 22 Old Short Hills
Road Livingston, NJ 07039 USA. Tel: 973-533-9299; Fax: 973-992-7648; E-mail: pzauber@gmail.com
Original Article
KRAS gene mutations are more common in colorectal villous adeno-mas and
in situ carcinomas than in carcinomas
Peter Zauber, Stephen Marotta, Marlene Sabbath-Solitare
Department of Medicine, Saint Barnabas Medical Center Livingston, NJ 07039, USA; Department of Pathology, Saint Barnabas
Medical Cen-ter Livingston, NJ 07039, USA
Received February 8, 2013; Accepted February 27, 2013; Epub March 18, 2013; Published March 28, 2013
Abstract: We have evaluated the frequency of KRAS gene mutations during the critical transition from villous adenoma to
colorectal carcinoma to assess whether the adenomas contain a KRAS mutation more frequently than carcinomas. We
analyzed sporadic villous and tubulovillous adenomas, in situ carcinomas, and primary colorectal carcinomas from multiple
patients. The cancers were further evaluated for mucinous status and microsatellite instability. Standard PCR molecular
techniques were used for KRAS and microsatellite analyses. A KRAS mutation was found in 61.9% of 134 adenomas, 67.8% of
84 in situ carcinomas, and just 31.6% of 171 carcinomas. Our study clearly demonstrates that tubulovillous and villous
adenomas, as well as both the benign and malignant parts of in situ carcinomas, are statistically more likely to contain a
somatic KRAS gene mutation than colorectal carcinomas. This difference is confined to the non-mucinous and the
microsatellite stable tumors. Our data support the possibility that non-mucinous and microsatellite stable carcinomas with
wild-type KRAS gene may have had a mutation in the KRAS gene during their earlier stages, with the mutation lost during
further growth. (IJMEG1302002).
Keywords: KRAS gene, colorectal adenomas, colorectal carcinoma, microsatellite instability, tubulovillous adenoma, villous
adenoma
Address correspondence to: Dr. Peter Zauber, Department of Medicine, Saint Barnabas Medical Center, 22 Old Short Hills
Road Livingston, NJ 07039 USA. Tel: 973-533-9299; Fax: 973-992-7648; E-mail: pzauber@gmail.com
