AB064. Defining the genomic landscape of mucinous rectal cancer
Session 5: Sylvester O'Halloran Prize Session

AB064. Defining the genomic landscape of mucinous rectal cancer

Ian Sean Reynolds1,2, Emer O’Connell1,2, Michael Fichtner2, Deborah McNamara1,3, Elaine Kay4, Jochen Prehn2,5, Simon Furney2,5, John Burke1

1Department of Colorectal Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland;2Department of Physiology & Medical Physics, 3Department of Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland;4Department of Pathology, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland;5Centre for Systems Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland


Background: Mucinous adenocarcinoma (MA) accounts for 5–15% of rectal cancers. This histological subtype is known to have a poor response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and worse survival. Unlike MA of the colon there is little known about the underlying genomic aberrations of MA of the rectum. The aim of this study was to define the genomic landscape of MA and compare it to non-mucinous adenocarcinoma (NMA) of the rectum.

Methods: Paired end whole genome sequencing was carried out on 9 MA samples and matched normal tissue on the BGISEQ PE100 platform. A coverage depth of 60× was used for tumour and 30× for normal. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) was interrogated for further cases of MA and cases of NMA. Bioinformatic analysis was undertaken and a comparison of the genomic landscapes between MA and NMA was performed.

Results: Fourteen MAs (9 Beaumont & 5 TCGA) were compared to 74 NMAs. The microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) rate in the MA group was 14.29% vs. 4.05% in the NMA group. POLE mutations were found in 5.41% of the NMA group compared to 0.00% of the MA group. KRAS, BRAF and PIK3CA mutations were more frequent in the MA group whereas TP53 and APC mutations were more common in the NMA group. Significant differences between the groups were identified in the most frequently mutated genes. Copy number alteration, mutational signatures, structural variation and microbiome findings will also be described.

Conclusions: MA is a distinct phenotype arising from a distinct genotype and this may have important implications when considering treatment strategies.

Keywords: Genomics; mucinous; rectal cancer; sequencing


doi: 10.21037/map.2020.AB064
Cite this abstract as: Reynolds IS, O’Connell E, Fichtner M, McNamara D, Kay E, Prehn J, Furney S, Burke J. Defining the genomic landscape of mucinous rectal cancer. Mesentery Peritoneum 2020;4:AB064.

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