Genetic variation in BRAF gene among Iraqi colorectal cancer patients

Abstract EN

The RAS/RAF/MEK/MAP kinase pathway is essential to intracellular signaling transduction regulating cell proliferation, differentiation and death.

BRAF gene encodes a serine /threonine kinase and plays an important role in the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway.

FrequentBRAF mutations were reported recently in a variety of human malignancies, including colorectal cancer (CRC).This study was designed to investigate the BRAF mutations in exon 15 in Iraqi colorectal cancer patients.

Ninety samples of fixed formalin paraffin embedded tissue ( FFPE) were enrolled in this study and divided into three groups according to histopathology report (16 apparently healthy, 37 suffering colorectal cancer adenocarcinoma and 37 benign tumors).DNA from the FFPE samples were extract and the BRAF gene was screened for the presence of mutations using PCR technique and direct sequencing.

The results revealed that there are no BRAF gene mutations in exon 15 in Iraqi colorectal cancer patients.

These results were confirmed previous articles regarding low rate of BRAF gene mutation in Asia and south Iran.

The results of colorectal cancer in Iraqi patients may be indicating the possibility of CRC patients treatment with monoclonal antibodies.

Conclusion: Despite the limited study sample our data suggest that BRAF mutations might be less frequently than other genes in the RAF family in Iraqi CRC patients.

Further researches involving large patient series will be necessary to confirm these findings and to asses possible ethinic/environmtal and lifestyle influences on BRAF mutagenesis.