Abstract:
Objective To explore the correlation of KRAS gene mutation with set domain bifurcated 1 (SETDB1) protein expression in colorectal cancer and its clinical significance.
Methods Tissue samples and the case data of 122 patients with colorectal cancer hospitalized in the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University from January 2017 to December 2017 were collected. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was used to detect KRAS gene mutations, and immunohistochemistry was used to detect SETDB1 protein expression.
Results Mutation rate of KRAS gene in colorectal cancer tissues was 41.80%, and the mutation status of KRAS gene was correlated with tumor location and preoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level (P < 0.05), but not with age, sex, differentiation degree, tumor size, pTNM stage, or lymph node metastasis (P>0.05). KRAS gene mutation status was positively correlated with SETDB1 protein expression (r=0.232, P=0.001). The level of SETDB1 protein expression was correlated with tumor differentiation, size, and initial serum CEA level (P < 0.05) but not with age, sex, tumor location, pTNM stage, or lymph node metastasis (P>0.05).
Conclusions We observed high expression of SETDB1 protein in KRAS gene mutated colorectal cancer tissues, indicating that KRAS gene mutation might affect SETDB1 protein expression.