KRAS mutation status is associated with specific pattern of genes expression in pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Abstract

To evaluate potential differences at a molecular level between KRAS mutant tumors (MT) and KRAS wild-type (WT) pancreatic tumors and the biological and prognostic significance of different KRAS mutations. Expression of a panel of 29 genes was analyzed in KRAS WT and MT tumors. Effects of KRAS mutation and gene expression levels were assessed on patients' survival. MUC6 (p = 0.009), HGF (p = 0.011), VEGFR-2 (p = 0.020) and VEGFB (p = 0.026) were significantly more expressed and SMAD4 was less suppressed (p = 0.003) in WT KRAS. Contrariwise, SHH (p = 0.012) and IHH (p = 0.031) were more expressed in MT KRAS patients. No OS difference was found between WT and MT KRAS tumors. KRAS mutation status seems to identify two different subtypes of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma with similar outcome but distinct molecular features and probably different therapeutic targets.