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

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 ( P <0.01, relative risk [rr]=7.27), TNM stage ( P < 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. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, inc.