Impact of genetic mutations and nutritional status on the survival of patients with colorectal cancer

Genetic alterations that have been described in colorectal cancer (CRC) include chromosomal instability (CIN), which generates sporadic CRC, microsatellite instability (MSI) represented by known hereditary syndromes [1, 2], and a third serrated pathway of CpG island methylation (CIMP). [3] High body mass index (BMI) is another established risk factor for CRC, [1, 4] but the impact of BMI is unclear, possibly due to the timing of the BMI assessment in relation to the diagnosis. [5, 6] Emerging data suggests that the association of BMI with CRC differs by MSI status of the tumor. [1, 2] Therefore, higher BMI is commonly associated with a lower MSI frequency. Thus, microsatellite stability (MS) is frequently observed in obese individuals with CRC, with consequent reduction in the presence of mutations. This condition may be related to several factors, including the high levels of cytokines that accompany obesity. [4] MSI is an established marker of survival for patients with CRC. Subjects with high MSI tumors have a favorable prognosis in comparison with age and patients at matched stage with stable tumors in MS. [3, 7] Similarly, patients with mutated KRAS and BRAF tumors have a worse prognosis compared to patients harboring wild type KRAS and BRAF. [3, 8]

The impact of BMI on the survival of patients with CRC is controversial. Increased BMI has been associated by some authors with short survival in some cancers, such as CRC. [9] In contrast, other studies have reported lower mortality among overweight or moderately obese patients with CRC. [10, 11] However, the combination of several methods, such as the use of BMI, bioelectrical impedance analysis, computed tomography for the analysis of sarcopenia and visceral fat, Nutritional Risk Screening (NRS), and the subjective Patient-Produced Subjective Nutritional Assessment (PG-SGA), have demonstrated more conclusive responses in predicting survival in patients with CRC. [5, 10, 11]

These contradictory findings suggest a potential obesity paradox, preventing a conclusive interpretation of its role in predicting overall cancer survival. Molecular changes, such as the presence of mutations, present clearer evidence regarding the prognosis of colon and rectum adenocarcinoma. However, consistent evidence suggests that the nutritional status in peri- and post-diagnosis periods of these individuals also influences the prognosis related to the disease. [12] The available evidence indicates the importance of genetic information associated with the nutritional status of patients with CRC, although there are few related studies as well as studies of gene and body composition variables. [13‐15] Morikawa et al. [14] verified the association of TP53 gene and BMI in patients with CRC. However, the authors did not find a significant correlation of mutated TP53 and survival. However, in non-obese individuals (BMI < 30 kg/m²), the presence of a mutation in TP53 has been associated with poor survival, with no significant association with survival in patients with BMI > 30 kg/m². Thus, the authors concluded that the survival of CRC patients with mutations in TP53 differs significantly according to their BMI. [14] This occurs because the tumor suppressor gene is induced in a cellular response to the reduction of nutrients or energy levels, thus avoiding cell proliferation under nutrient deprivation conditions. [16]

Epidemiological studies suggest that the causal effects of obesity or excess energy balance are associated with the incidence of colon cancer and mortality. [4, 5] It has been suggested that TP53 associated with the energy balance influences tumor behavior in a manner that is optimized in relation to the absence of mutations. [14] The same study also verified the presence of mutations in other genes, although it was limited only to gene examinations.

We have included genes that may interfere in the carcinogenesis and prognosis of CRC (BRAF, KRAS, NRAS, EGRF, PIK3CA, PTEN, APC, SMAD4, and FBXW7). The data indicated that the prognosis of CRC patients can be influenced by genetic mutations and nutritional status (Fig. 1). To date, however, the relationship between these variables has been poorly documented. The objective of the present study was to verify the variables involved in the nutritional status and genetic mutations, which correlate with the survival of patients with CRC.

Forty-six CRC patients were included. The mean age of the patients was 62.8 + 13 years and 34 (73.9%) were female. The distribution ratio of tumor sites was similar (p = 0.978). Tumors were found in the ascending and transverse colon in 15 (32.6%), descending and sigmoid colon in 16 (34.8%), and rectum in 15 (32.6%) patients. According to the TNM classification, [27] 5 (10.8%), 11 (23.9%), and 12 (26.2%) patients were in stage I, II, and III, respectively, with the majority of patients in stage IV (n = 18, 39.1%). It should be emphasized that the purpose of the study was to evaluate patients with an intention of surgical resection of the CRC. Although, many patients received an indication of surgery, the procedure was later contraindicated due to disease progression.

Among the patients evaluated, 41 (89.1%) had no oncological treatment prior to surgery and 5 (10.9%) with malignant neoplasia located in the rectum underwent radiotherapy prior to surgery. For patients who had radiotherapy prior to surgery, the genetic study was not performed. The majority of the patients were at nutritional risk (n = 29, 64.4%) and moderately malnourished (n = 21, 45.7%). However, there was a high percentage of VAT (n = 24, 61.5%), increase of VAT/SAT (n = 27, 75%), and sarcopenia (n = 19, 48.7%) (Table 1). Patients with gene mutations in the tumor had a shorter survival time than patients with the wild type gene, except for NRAS, BRAF, and EGFR mutations (Table 2). However, these differences were not significant. All nutritional indicators (BMI, nutritional screening, PG-SGA, phase angle, VAT, and sarcopenia) were significantly associated with a higher risk of mortality (all p <  0.05, Fig. 2), except VAT/SAT (p = 0.366) (Table 3).

Twelve (26.1%) patients died during the study period. Table 4 presents the crude and age-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for death according to different nutritional indicators. A univariate analysis (Crude HR) revealed a higher risk of death among patients with positive indicators for malnutrition or risk of malnutrition when compared to malnourished or overweight patients. Patients at nutritional risk (NRS), moderately/severely malnourished (PG-SGA), and phase angle ≤5 presented a higher risk for death (Table 4).

The HRs and those adjusted for the presence of mutation in the KRAS gene were analyzed according to the different nutritional indicators. A univariate analysis revealed a higher risk of death among patients with positive indicators for malnutrition or risk of malnutrition when compared to patients who were not malnourished or overweight. Patients with VAT < 163.8 cm² (males) or < 80.1 cm² (females) displayed an approximately five-fold increased risk of death when compared to patients with VAT > 163.8 cm² (males) or > 80.1 cm² (females), regardless of the presence of the mutated KRAS gene (Table 4).

Cox regression analyses were conducted to investigate the possible predictors of all-cause mortality in the study population. None of the independent prognostic factors had an impact on survival (Table 5).

The study was conducted to verify if the variables involved in nutritional status and genetic mutations correlated with the survival of patients with CRC. Both variables are considered fundamental and determinant in the carcinogenesis and prognosis of these individuals. Obesity is a well-established risk factor for CRC, [4, 5] that influences the treatment and consequent interference with prognosis. [28] In contrast, malnutrition is also associated with therapeutic response and evaluation. [29, 30]

The growing understanding of the involved molecular pathways has revealed that specific gene mutations are determinants in the carcinogenesis and prognosis of CRC. This condition occurs because of loss of gene function due to the mutation influences uncontrolled cell proliferation and apoptosis, and in turn facilitates the development of neoplasms. [3] The loss of function of some CRC-related genes may hinder the therapy with specific biologicals and characterize tumors that are morphologically and histopathologically more difficult to treat, with consequent inference on prognosis. [31, 32]

Advanced age, male gender, advanced stage of disease, and presence of mutations in genes that participate in the carcinogenesis of CRC are variables that influence the shorter survival of patients with CRC. [31, 33] In the present study, clinical and epidemiological characteristics were not associated with mortality risk. However, among the patients with a mutation in the PIK3CA, KRAS, APC, or FBXW7 gene, the survival was lower as well as in individuals who presented with > 5 mutations. The prognostic value of the presence of mutation in genes involved in CRC carcinogenesis is still controversial. Some studies have shown that mutations are associated with poor prognosis, while others report the lack of an association. [33‐35]

The lack of an association of the clinical and epidemiological variables to a worsened prognosis can be attributed to the reduced sample size and to the period in which the patients were followed. The median survival of patients with CRC varies with the stage [36, 37].

The nutritional status of cancer patients is a determinant factor in survival, and the presence of nutritional deficits is associated with a worse prognosis. [38] Most of the nutritional indicators that were presently analyzed (BMI, nutritional screening, PG-SGA, phase angle, VAT, and sarcopenia) were associated with a higher risk of mortality. Regardless of the most advanced stage of the disease (stage IV), nutritional deficiency evident as low weight, nutritional risk, moderately/severely malnourished, and phase angle <5^o was related to the higher risk of death.

In this study, individuals at nutritional risk or moderately/severely malnourished had decreased survival. Screening and early nutritional assessment can identify the risk of malnutrition, minimize weight loss, and indicate patients who will benefit from early and specialized nutritional intervention. [39] In addition to this application, these tools are also useful for predicting the morbidity of cancer patients. [40, 41]

Increasing interest in the potential of the phase angle to predict adverse outcomes, such as mortality, may reflect cell size, cell membrane integrity and/or water distribution in the extra and intracellular compartments. [41, 42] Many studies have reported that a low phase angle is associated with decreased survival in cancer patients. [41‐43] Hui et al. [43] evaluated patients hospitalized with advanced cancer and determined that the median survival was 106 days and that the reduced phase angle was associated with worse survival independent of other known prognosis, such as palliative prognostic score, palliative prognostic index, lean mass and hypoalbuminemia. Another study also identified an average survival time of 250 days when the mean phase angle was 4.4 (±1.0) in outpatient palliative care patients. [44] In the present study, patients with a phase angle <5^o were associated with lower survival.

Patients with sarcopenia tend to have lower survival compared to patients without sarcopenia, [45] as also observed in the present study. With regard to postoperative mortality, Boer et al. [46] found in a series of 91 patients who underwent surgery for CRC resection that sarcopenia was a predictor for worse survival, reducing sarcopenia by 1 year. Similarly, Reisinger et al. [47] reported that sarcopenia was a predictor for worse survival within 30 days. In our analysis, of the 11 patients who died, 7 had sarcopenia. However, because of the small sample size, it was not possible to associate sarcopenia with mortality. The present study classified sarcopenia by means of the height-related muscle mass index, as proposed by some authors. [48, 49] On the contrary, it is known that sarcopenia should be understood by the association of muscle mass reduction plus the interpretation of functional capacity changes, a variable that was not analyzed in the study.

A recent cohort study identified for the first time that low muscle mass or sarcopenia is also highly prevalent among patients with non-metastatic CRC and that the adverse effect is not restricted to patients with advanced CRC associated with cachexia. The study cited similar results to the present study, in which almost 45% of newly diagnosed men and 40% of women had sarcopenia. These patients compared to those without sarcopenia had a 30% overall mortality risk and a 50% increased risk of CRC without metastasis. [50] In the present study, it was observed that the frequency of sarcopenia was also present in individuals at the initial stage of the disease.

Excess weight translated by BMI and VAT seems to exert a beneficial effect on survival. Some evidence supports the view that high BMI interferes with the worse prognosis of patients with CRC. However, several recent studies involving cancer patients reported that elevated BMI was associated with improved survival compared to patients with normal weight. [10, 11] BMI is a measure that is readily available in patients with CRC. However, BMI does not accurately measure adiposity or muscle mass. [12] The few studies that have been able to directly measure body composition have shown that low muscle mass [48, 51] or greater visceral adiposity [52, 53] are associated with worse survival. However, most of these studies have been very small (< 250 patients) and were performed in patients with advanced cancer with poor prognosis.

A recent retrospective cohort study concluded that lower adiposity is an independent factor associated with increased risk of mortality after adjustment for the major predictors of mortality in cancer patients. [54] Among the deposits of adipose tissue, SAT maintained the prognostic value on the VAT. When the combination of adiposity and sarcopenia was considered, the presence of sarcopenia and low SAT were associated with lower survival. However, the effect of sarcopenia on survival was more pronounced in patients with low subcutaneous adiposity. Therefore, in the absence of sarcopenia, high adiposity has been shown to be a phenomenon of protective body composition and is advantageously associated with the survival of oncological patients. [54] These results corroborate the findings of the present study, since of the 24 patients with increased VAT, only five had sarcopenia.

To understand the role that body composition can play in cancer patients in relation to prognosis, the profile of the patients who received interventions with the purpose of promoting muscular anabolism and maintenance of SAT may be instructive to examine.

This study has some limitations. Paramount was the sample size, since the reduced number of patients included may reduce the statistical power of some analyses. Another limitation was the prevalence of women in the study group. This condition could influence the interpretation of data related to body composition. To control this condition, classifications of variables related to composition were stratified according to gender. A study strength was its prospective design, in contrast to previous studies.

In conclusion, it was possible to observe a higher risk of death among patients with positive indicators for malnutrition or risk of malnutrition, according to BMI, NRS, PG-SGA, phase angle, VAT, and sarcopenia, when compared to non-malnourished or overweight patients. No relationship was identified between the presence of mutations and survival. Considering that variables involved in nutritional status and genetic mutations are fundamental and are important in carcinogenesis and prognosis of cancer patients, more research is needed to elucidate the impact of their associations on survival. With this understanding, it will be possible to propose more effective clinical and nutritional therapeutic interventions.