High Probability of Lynch Syndrome Among Colorectal Cancer Patients Is Associated With Higher Occurrence of KRAS and PIK3CA Mutations

Background: In Indonesia, early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) rates are higher in patients < 50 years old compared to Western populations, possibly due to a higher frequency of Lynch syndrome (LS) in CRC patients. We aimed to examine the association of KRAS and PIK3CA mutations with LS. Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional single-center study, the PCR-HRM-based test was used for screening of microsatellite instability (MSI) mononucleotide markers (BAT25, BAT26, BCAT25, MYB, EWSR1), MLH1 promoter methylation, and oncogene mutations of BRAF (V600E), KRAS (exon 2 and 3), and PIK3CA (exon 9 and 20) in FFPE DNA samples. Results: All the samples (n = 244) were from Dr. Sardjito General Hospital Yogyakarta, Indonesia. KRAS and PIK3CA mutations were found in 151/244 (61.88) and 107/244 (43.85) of samples, respectively. KRAS and PIK3CA mutations were significantly associated with MSI status in 32/42 (76.19) and 25/42 (59.52) of samples, respectively. KRAS mutation was significantly associated with LS status in 26/32 (81.25) of samples. The PIK3CA mutation was present in a higher proportion in LS samples of 19/32 (59.38), but not statistically significant. Clinicopathology showed that KRAS mutation was significantly associated with right-sided CRC and higher histology grade in 39/151 (25.83) and 24/151 (16.44) samples, respectively. PIK3CA mutation was significantly associated with female sex and lower levels of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in 62/107 (57.94) and 26/107 (30.23) samples, respectively. KRAS and PIK3CA mutations did not significantly affect overall survival (120 months) in LS and non-LS patients. Conclusions: The high probability of LS in Indonesian CRC patients is associated with KRAS and PIK3CA mutations. © 2024 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.