Abstract
The Ras-ERK pathway is frequently up-regulated in colorectal cancer.We analyzed the clinical-pathological correlation of K-Ras mutation and phospho-ERK expression in colorectal cancer. K-Ras mutations were detected in only 32.5% (41/126) of the colorectal cancer cases, while all cancers were positive for phospho-ERK staining. Colorectal cancer with wild-type K-Ras and low phospho-ERK expression had a significantly higher survival rate (log-rank P=0.04). There were 9 cases of K-Ras mutation/low phospho-ERK diseases; 88.9%(8/9) of them were stage III/IV diseases. High phospho-ERK expression was associated with a high stage and T status of the cancer, yet combined K-Ras mutation/phospho-ERK expression analysis further increased the efficiency of colorectal cancer prognosis. Our results demonstrate that Ras-ERK pathway correlated closely with colorectal cancer progression. Moreover, although colorectal cancer with K-Ras mutations has a more aggressive phenotype; the mutation rate is not very high. Phospho-ERK may be a useful marker in combination with K-Ras for improving the prognosis of colorectal cancer.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 93-100 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Polish Journal of Pathology |
Volume | 63 |
Issue number | 2 |
Publication status | Published - 2012 |
Keywords
- Colorectal cancer
- ERK
- Mutation
- Phosphorylation
- Ras
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pathology and Forensic Medicine