Prognostic factors of colorectal cancer: K‐ras mutation, overexpression of the p53 protein, and cell proliferative activity

Abstract

Between June 1990 and April 1991,62 colorectal tumors were assessed in a prospective fashion on the basis of various tumor characteristics. Parameters included K‐ras mutation, overexpression of the p53 protein, and proliferating cell nuclear cell antigen, as well as standard histopathologic examination. A multivariate analysis showed that K‐ras mutation correlated with vascular invasion (P < 0.01) and hematogenous metastasis (P < 0.01). With regard to survival time, multivariate analyses using the Cox proportional hazard model suggested that status of lymph node metastasis (PP < 0.05, rr=5.37), lymphatic invasion (P < 0.05, rr=4.48), and K‐ras mutation (P < 0.06, rr=3.69) are the most independent prognostic factors. We compared the prognostic value of the molecular assays and standard TNM prognostic factors by multivariate analysts.