FRMD6 expression can predict relapse of colorectal carcinoma after cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC.

BACKGROUND

4.1-ezrin-radixin-moesin (FERM) domain containing protein 6 (FRMD6), a component of Hippo/YAP pathway, behaves as a tumor suppressor gene and is one of the proteins used for colorectal carcinomas (CRC) molecular classification. As its potential prognostic role has not been widely analyzed, this study aims to determine it in the management of CRC with peritoneal involvement.

METHODS

Clinicopathological data from 37 patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for CRC with peritoneal involvement after preoperative chemotherapy, were collected and immunohistochemistry for FRMD6 in preoperative samples was performed.

RESULTS

After neoadjuvant chemotherapy, 5 patients achieved pathologic complete response. After CRS/HIPEC, disease progressed in 66.7% of the patients and at the time of the study 48.6% had died of disease. FRMD6 expression was positive in 45.9% of cases. Statistical analysis revealed a significant association between FRMD6 expression and prognosis both in terms of progression free survival and overall survival and a tendency to significance for the association with pathological response to therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results align with the few previous studies findings, which have shown a better prognosis for patients overexpressing FRMD6, but for the first time in the world literature we have analyzed this marker in patients undergoing HIPEC.