Demystifying BRAF Mutation Status in Colorectal Liver Metastases
Georgios Antonios Margonis, Thomas Boerner, Jean‐Baptiste Bachet, Stefan Buettner, Roberto Moretto, Nikolaos Andreatos, Andrea Sartore‐Bianchi, Jane Wang, Carsten Kamphues, Johan Gagnière, Sara Lonardi, Inger Marie Løes, Doris Wagner, Andrea Spallanzani, Kazunari Sasaki, Richard A. Burkhart, Filippo Pietrantonio, Emmanouil Pikoulis, Timothy M. Pawlik, Stéphanie Truant, Armando Orlandi, Anastasia Pikouli, Nicoletta Pella, Katharina Beyer, George A. Poultsides, Hendrik Seeliger, Federico Aucejo, Peter Kornprat, Klaus Kaczirek, Per Eystein Lønning, Martin E. Kreis, Christopher L. Wolfgang, Matthew J. Weiss, Chiara Cremolini, Stéphane Benoist, Michael I. D’Angelica
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical implications of BRAF -mutated (mut BRAF ) colorectal liver metastases (CRLMs). BACKGROUND: The clinical implications of mut BRAF status in CRLMs are largely unknown. METHODS: Patients undergoing resection for mut BRAF CRLM were identified from prospectively maintained registries of the collaborating institutions. Overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were compared among patients with V600E versus non-V600E mutations, KRAS/BRAF comutation versus mut BRAF alone, microsatellite stability status (Microsatellite Stable (MSS) vs instable (MSI-high)), upfront resectable versus converted tumors, extrahepatic versus liver-limited disease, and intrahepatic recurrence treated with repeat hepatectomy versus nonoperative management. RESULTS: A total of 240 patients harboring BRAF -mutated tumors were included. BRAF V600E mutation was associated with shorter OS (30.6 vs 144 mo, P =0.004), but not RFS compared with non-V600E mutations. KRAS/BRAF comutation did not affect outcomes. MSS tumors were associated with shorter RFS (9.1 vs 26 mo, P <0.001) but not OS (33.5 vs 41 mo, P =0.3) compared with MSI-high tumors, whereas patients with resected converted disease had slightly worse RFS (8 vs 11 mo, P =0.01) and similar OS (30 vs 40 mo, P =0.4) compared with those with upfront resectable disease. Patients with extrahepatic disease had worse OS compared with those with liver-limited disease (8.8 vs 40 mo, P <0.001). Repeat hepatectomy after intrahepatic recurrence was associated with improved OS compared with nonoperative management (41 vs 18.7 mo, P =0.004). All results continued to hold true in the multivariable OS analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Although surgery may be futile in patients with BRAF -mutated CRLM and concurrent extrahepatic disease, resection of converted disease resulted in encouraging survival in the absence of extrahepatic spread. Importantly, second hepatectomy in select patients with recurrence was associated with improved outcomes. Finally, MSI-high status identifies a better prognostic group, with regard to RFS while patients with non-V600E mutations have excellent prognosis.