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BMC Cancer
Published in: BMC Cancer 1/2010

Open Access 01-12-2010 | Research article

Lack of evidence for KRAS oncogenic mutations in triple-negative breast cancer

Authors: Alfonso Sánchez-Muñoz, Elena Gallego, Vanessa de Luque, Luís G Pérez-Rivas, Luís Vicioso, Nuria Ribelles, José Lozano, Emilio Alba

Published in: BMC Cancer | Issue 1/2010

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Abstract

Background

Mutational analysis of the KRAS gene has recently been established as a complementary in vitro diagnostic tool for the identification of patients with colorectal cancer who will not benefit from anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) therapies. Assessment of the mutation status of KRAS might also be of potential relevance in other EGFR-overexpressing tumors, such as those occurring in breast cancer. Although KRAS is mutated in only a minor fraction of breast tumors (5%), about 60% of the basal-like subtype express EGFR and, therefore could be targeted by EGFR inhibitors. We aimed to study the mutation frequency of KRAS in that subtype of breast tumors to provide a molecular basis for the evaluation of anti-EGFR therapies.

Methods

Total, genomic DNA was obtained from a group of 35 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded, triple-negative breast tumor samples. Among these, 77.1% (27/35) were defined as basal-like by immunostaining specific for the established surrogate markers cytokeratin (CK) 5/6 and/or EGFR. KRAS mutational status was determined in the purified DNA samples by Real Time (RT)-PCR using primers specific for the detection of wild-type KRAS or the following seven oncogenic somatic mutations: Gly12Ala, Gly12Asp, Gly12Arg, Gly12Cys, Gly12Ser, Gly12Val and Gly13Asp.

Results

We found no evidence of KRAS oncogenic mutations in all analyzed tumors.

Conclusions

This study indicates that KRAS mutations are very infrequent in triple-negative breast tumors and that EGFR inhibitors may be of potential benefit in the treatment of basal-like breast tumors, which overexpress EGFR in about 60% of all cases.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Lack of evidence for KRAS oncogenic mutations in triple-negative breast cancer
Authors
Alfonso Sánchez-Muñoz
Elena Gallego
Vanessa de Luque
Luís G Pérez-Rivas
Luís Vicioso
Nuria Ribelles
José Lozano
Emilio Alba
Publication date
01-12-2010
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Cancer / Issue 1/2010
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2407
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2407-10-136

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