Detection of KRAS Mutations in Circulating Tumor Cells for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Strategic Insights -

Recent research from Kaohsiung, Taiwan, has made a significant breakthrough in the detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) with KRAS oncogene mutations in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. A study involving 76 patients treated with cetuximab plus chemotherapy found that the detection sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of membrane-arrays for CTCs with KRAS oncogene were 84.4%, 95.3%, and 90.8%, respectively. This study provides evidence that detection of KRAS mutational status in CTCs has potential for clinical application in selecting metastatic colorectal cancer patients most likely to benefit from cetuximab therapy.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study enrolled 76 metastatic colorectal cancer patients receiving cetuximab plus FOLFIRI or FOLFOX-4 chemotherapy.
  • KRAS mutation status in tumors and in peripheral blood were identified in 33 (43.4%) and 30 (39.5%) patients, respectively.
  • The detection sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of membrane-arrays for CTCs with KRAS oncogene were 84.4%, 95.3%, and 90.8%, respectively.
  • The researchers found a highly significant correlation between KRAS mutations in tumors and in peripheral blood.
  • The study suggests that detection of KRAS mutational status in CTCs has potential for clinical application in selecting metastatic colorectal cancer patients most likely to benefit from cetuximab therapy.
  • Yen and colleagues published their study in Clinical Cancer Research (Detection of KRAS Oncogene in Peripheral Blood as a Predictor of the Response to Cetuximab Plus Chemotherapy in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer. Clinical Cancer Research, 2009;15(13):4508-4513).

Statistics:

  • 76 patients were enrolled in the study.
  • 33 (43.4%) patients had KRAS mutations in tumors.
  • 30 (39.5%) patients had KRAS mutations in peripheral blood.
  • Detection sensitivity was 84.4%.
  • Detection specificity was 95.3%.
  • Detection accuracy was 90.8%.

Sources:

  • Clinical Cancer Research (Detection of KRAS Oncogene in Peripheral Blood as a Predictor of the Response to Cetuximab Plus Chemotherapy in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer, Yen et al., 2009;15(13):4508-4513).
  • Cancer Weekly editors (2009) and other reports.