Analysis and correlation of K-Ras mutation, stem cell immunoexpression, clinical characteristics and global survival in colon-rectum adenocarcinoma

• Grant number: 13/06649-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2013
• End date: May 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Fernanda Maris Peria
• Grantee: Felipe Bettini Rabello
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Colorectal cancer is one of major public health problems worldwide, being the third highest incidence in men and fourth in women. In the last decades, treatment with cytotoxic chemotherapy for colorectal tumors progressed with new drugs and target therapies associated with survival improvement. Clinical trials focused in drug-target pathways investigation and intracellular and intercellular signaling molecules are the current focus of translational research. K-ras gene is involved in several mechanisms of carcinogenesis, such as invasion, proliferation, angiogenesis and metastasis. However, these interactions are not yet detailed in genomic and proteomic level as well as their association with prognosis of these tumors. The present study aims to: stratify patients according to the status of Kras gene (mutated or wild-type); characterize the presence of tumor stem cells in subgroups of patients with Kras mutated, and correlate the findings related to Kras mutation and presence of tumor stem cells with clinical pathological prognostic factors and outcomes. Methods: Tumor samples will be analyzed and their information contained in the medical records of 50 patients with colon adenocarcinoma treated by the Division of Clinical Oncology of HCFMRP-USP. For laboratory analysis techniques, it will be used for PCR direct sequencing for mutations in K-ras and immunohistochemical detection of tumor stem cells (CD133, CD166, CD44 and CD24). (AU)