The common molecular genetic alterations in Dukes' B and C colorectal carcinomas are not short-term prognostic indicators of survival.

Our study was undertaken to determine the prognostic significance of several common genetic alterations observed in colorectal carcinomas. We have previously analysed loss of heterozygosity of the MCC, APC, p53 and DCC tumour suppressor gene loci as well as p53 gene mutations and protein over-expression in a series of 100 Dukes' stage B and C colorectal tumours obtained at surgery. To extend our observations of alterations that may occur in these tumours, mutations to the c-Ki-ras oncogene and APC tumour suppressor gene were detected by PCR single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis. Short-term follow-up revealed no significant association between overall patient survival and any single, or combination of, genetic alteration(s). Surprisingly, patients whose tumours showed evidence of p53 protein over-expression/accumulation by immunocytochemistry (ICC) had a significantly better prognosis (p = 0.039) than those whose tumours had no p53 ICC reactivity.