PIK3CA mutation and methylation influences the outcome of colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) occurs through the accumulation of genetic and epigenetic alterations. The epigenetic abnormalities, in cooperation with genetic alterations, are capable of causing aberrant gene function that results in cancer. In the present study, we examined mutations and methylation status in 164 CRCs to determine whether the combination of genetic and epigenetic alterations may be used to classify CRC patients in relation to their clinicopathological characteristics and outcomes. Mutation analyses for the KRAS and PIK3CA genes were performed using direct sequencing, and the MethyLight method was used to determine the methylation status of BNIP3, p16 and hMLH1. The combination of the KRAS mutation with methylation status did not have any association with clinicopathological characteristics and outcomes. However, patients with the PIK3CA mutation and/or high methylation (2 or 3 methylated genes) had significantly poorer outcomes in disease-specific survival (DSS) compared with those with wild-type PIK3CA and 0 or I methylated genes (P=0.0059). Additionally, multivariate analysis revealed that the PIK3CA mutation and/or a high level of methylation predicts a poor DSS independently of clinicopathological characteristics. Our results suggest that a combination of genetic and epigenetic alterations is a potent biomarker for predicting the prognosis of CRC.