Simultaneous mutations in K-ras and TP53 are indicative of poor prognosis in sporadic colorectal cancer

Despite the fact that the mutations in K-ras codon 12 and TP53 are common abnormalities in colorectal cancer, the determination of K-ras mutation combined with TP53 gene mutation, with diagnostic and prognostic purposes is still controversial. We have analyzed K-ras and TP53 mutations in 77 sporadic colorectal adenocarcinomas by means of polymerase chain reaction and sequencing. We observed a negative correlation between both K-ras and TP53 mutations. Patients with mutations in K-ras but not in TP53 exhibited worse survival rates than those with mutations in TP53 and not in K-ras. Moreover, we found the worst outcome in patients with mutations in both K-ras and TP53. These results may relate to the previously published data about primary human and rodent cells, in which transformation by Ras require either a cooperating oncogene or the inactivation of tumor suppressors such as p53 or p16. In conclusion, simultaneous mutations in K-ras and TP53 are indicative of a worse prognosis in sporadic colorectal cancer.