We evaluated KRAS (mKRAS (mutant KRAS)) and BRAF (mBRAF (mutant BRAF)) mutations to determine their prognostic potential in assessing patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) for lung metastasectomy.

Data were reviewed from 180 patients with a diagnosis of CRC who underwent a lung metastasectomy between January 1998 and December 2011.

Molecular analysis revealed mKRAS in 93 patients (51.7%), mBRAF in 19 patients (10.6%). In univariate analyses, overall survival (OS) was influenced by thoracic nodal status (median OS: 98 months for pN-, 27 months for pN+, P<0.0001), multiple thoracic metastases (75 months vs 101 months, P=0.008) or a history of liver metastases (94 months vs 101 months, P=0.04). mBRAF had a significantly worse OS than mKRAS and wild type (WT) (P<0.0001). The 5-year OS was 0% for mBRAF, 44% for mKRAS and 100% for WT, with corresponding median OS of 15, 55 and 98 months, respectively (P<0.0001). In multivariate analysis, WT BRAF (HR: 0.005 (95% CI: 0.001-0.02), P<0.0001) and WT KRAS (HR: 0.04 (95% CI: 0.02-0.1), P<0.0001) had a significant impact on OS.

mKRAS and mBRAF seem to be prognostic factors in patients with CRC who undergo lung metastasectomy. Further studies are necessary.