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The Real-Life Data of BRAF Mutation on the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer: a TOG Study

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Abstract

Purpose

Colorectal cancer is the third leading diagnosis accounting for nearly 10% of all new cancers worldwide. The distinct features among BRAF mutant colorectal cancers make these tumor groups hard to treat for oncologists. The median overall survival (OS) of these types of cancers is reported to be 9 to 14 months.

Methods

The study was declared on the Turkish Oncology Study Group Conference and approved. The patients’ data was received from the centers who confirmed to participate. The BRAF-mutated patients were included in the study. The demographic features (age, gender, etc.), type of mutation, tumor localizations, histology, microsatellite instability (MSI) status, metastasis patterns chemotherapeutic agents and progression, and death times were recorded.

Results

Thirty-nine patients were enrolled in the study. Sixteen patients had concurrent KRAS mutations, while 7 had NRAS mutations. Most of the patients received doublet chemotherapies in combination with anti-VEGF agents in the first and second line of the treatment. There was a significant difference in OS according to the stage which showed a decreased survival in stage IV patients at the time of diagnosis. Concurrent KRAS mutation resulted in increased OS. The median OS was 47 and 24 months favoring the KRAS mutant group. The patients whose primary tumor operated had better survival when compared with other patients. The median OS of the operated group was 47 months, while the non-operated group was 24 months. Liver metastasis was related to worse prognosis at the time of diagnosis in univariate analysis.

Conclusion

In our study we found a high concurrent RAS mutation ratio in a BRAF mutant patient group which was different from prior studies. The concurrent mutations resulted in a favorable outcome in terms of OS which is also different from the current knowledge. More prospective studies are needed especially BRAF-mutated patient population and especially with concurrent RAS mutations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Oncology, Eskişehir City Hospital, Eskişehir, Turkey

    Ismail Beypinar

  2. Department of Medical Oncology, Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University, Afyon, Turkey

    Hacer Demir

  3. Department of Medical Oncology, Yüzüncü Yıl University, Van, Turkey

    Abdullah Sakin

  4. Department of Medical Oncology, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey

    Burcu Yapar Taskoylu

  5. Department of Medical Oncology, Kahramanmaraş Necip Fazıl City Hospital, Kahramanmaraş, Turkey

    Teoman Sakalar

  6. Department of Medical Oncology, Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

    Yakup Ergun

  7. Meram Medicine Faculty, Department of Medical Oncology, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey

    Mustafa Korkmaz & Mehmet Artac

  8. Department of Medical Oncology, Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

    Ozturk Ates

  9. Training and Research Hospital, Dışkapı Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

    Tulay Eren

  10. Department of Medical Oncology, Anadolu Health Center, Istanbul, Turkey

    Serdar Turhal

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  1. Ismail Beypinar
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The study was approved by the local ethics committee of Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University

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Beypinar, I., Demir, H., Sakin, A. et al. The Real-Life Data of BRAF Mutation on the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer: a TOG Study. J Gastrointest Canc 52, 932–939 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12029-020-00514-9

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