Systematic review of tumour budding and association with common mutations in patients with colorectal cancer.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Despite a well-known prognostic role in colorectal cancer, the genomic profiling of tumour budding remains to be elucidated. We aim to review the association of common mutations with tumour budding. METHODS: A systematic review of studies relating to tumour budding and genetic mutation in CRC was performed. The relationship between mutational status and tumour budding was evaluated using meta-analysis. RESULTS: A total of 6153 patients from 17 articles were included. According to the meta-analysis, high-grade tumour budding was significantly associated with KRAS mutation (OR = 1.52, 95 %CI 1.13-2.02, P = 0.005) and MSS/pMMR (OR = 2.06, 95 %CI 1.42-2.97, P = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The significant association between high-grade tumour budding and mutated KRAS or MSS/pMMR may suggest a role of these mutations in the development of the tumour budding phenotype and be useful for stratifying patient outcome in CRC.