Background: The present study was undertaken to determine the prognostic significance of K-ras, p53 and bcl-2 in female rectal carcinoma.
Materials and methods: The mutations in K-ras and p53 genes were analysed using SSCP and direct sequencing. The expression of K-ras, bcl-2 and p53 proteins was determined immunohistochemically.
Results: Mutations of K-ras and p53 genes were detected in 12% and 38% of the tumours, respectively. The prevalence of K-ras overexpression was 67%. K-ras mutations were not associated with survival. However, more favourable survival was observed for patients with K-ras overexpression than with normal expression (adjusted hazard ratio from Cox model 0.4, 95% CI 0.2-0.8). Mutation or overexpression of p53 were not associated with survival.
Conclusions: It may be possible, that the mutations and protein overexpression of K-ras and p53 in female rectal carcinoma have different clinical impact on patient survival as suggested in previous studies concerning colorectal carcinoma of both sexes.