Colorectal cancer survival advantage in MUTYH-associated polyposis

	Tweet

Survival for colorectal cancer patients with MUTYH-associated polyposis was statistically significantly better than for patients with colorectal cancer from the general population, according to a recent study published online November 2 in The Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

People who inherit a mutation in the MUTYH gene have nearly a 100% risk for developing colon cancer at some point in their lifetimes. But it is unknown whether specific histological and molecular genetic features of cancer associated with this genotype influence tumor behavior and survival.

To determine whether patients with MUTYH-associated polyposis colorectal cancer had different survival rates than control colorectal cancer patients, Maartje Nielsen, M.D., of the Leiden University Medical Center, and colleagues, conducted a multicenter cohort study in Europe that included 147 patients with MUTYH-associated polyposis colorectal cancer and 272 population-based control patients with colorectal cancer. Control and study group patients were matched for country, stage, age and year at diagnosis, and cancer subsite. 

The researchers found that survival of patients with MUTYH-associated polyposis colorectal cancer was statistically significantly better than for control patients with colorectal cancer. Their five-year survival rate was 78% compared with 63% for the control group. Survival benefit was higher among patients with stage I and II disease than for those with stage III and IV disease.

The researchers offer a speculation about the better survival rate among the patients with MUTYH-associated polyposis colorectal cancer, compared with the control patients: “A compromised base excision repair system could render MUTYH-associated polyposis colorectal cancer more immunogenic than sporadic colorectal cancers, which are characterized predominantly by chromosomal instability.”

In an accompanying editorial, Henry T. Lynch, MD, and Stephen J. Lanspa, MD, of Creighton University, hypothesize that the cancer-causing mutations in MUTYH, as well as in the mismatch repair genes predisposing to Lynch syndrome, are the causal factors for their respective survival advantages. Furthermore, they write, “the ultimate understanding of the pathogenetic pathways elicited by these respective mutations may serve as models for studying both survival and increased virulence of hereditary and sporadic colorectal cancers.”

###

Contact:

Article: Maartje Nielsen, 01131715266036,

Editorial: N. Kathryn Clark, Public Relations Coordinator, Creighton University, 402-280-2864,

###

Contact: Kristine Crane

301-841-1285
Journal of the National Cancer Institute

RELATED STORIES:
A New Way to Treat Colon Cancer?   Aspirin cuts colon cancer death risk: U.S. study   Researchers Find Possible Link Between Bacterium and Colon Cancer   Exploring gender differences in colorectal cancer screenings   Tips to Lower Risk of Colorectal Cancer; New Combined Colonoscopy Procedure Avoids Major Surgery   A less painful colonoscopy   Simple, personalized interventions improve colorectal cancer screening rates   Colon cancer and the microbes in your gut   Poor colonoscopy prep hides pre-cancerous polyps   Aspirin’s ability to protect against colorectal cancer may depend on inflammatory pathways   Researchers discover genes involved in colorectal cancer   Chinese most prone to colorectal cancer in Asia   Where one lives impacts colon cancer survival   HBV infection decreases risk of liver metastasis in colorectal cancer patients   CT scans may predict survival in colorectal cancer   Soy May Reduce the Risk of Colorectal Cancer   Study Links Vitamin D to Colon Cancer Survival   African-Americans with colorectal cancer have poorer outcomes, lower survival rates   Coffee and sodas not tied to colon cancer   High colon cancer risk with diabetes confirmed   No link seen between high-carb diet, colon cancer   New treatments offer better survival and fresh challenges in colorectal cancer

Comments

[ + Post Your Own ]

Now you're in the public comment zone. What follows is not Armenian Medical Network's stuff; it comes from other people and we don't vouch for it. A reminder: By using this Web site you agree to accept our Terms of Service. Click here to read the Rules of Engagement.

There are no comments for this entry yet. [ + Comment here + ]