Purpose: To investigate whether CCND1 genetic variations associated with a constitutive nuclear protein may influence either the pathologic response to preoperative RT or the prognosis in a series of rectal cancer patients.
Methods and materials: Seventy rectal cancer patients treated by neoadjuvant radiotherapy were included in the study. CCND1 exon 5 mutations were screened, and the G870A polymorphism was assessed for correlation with clinical variables, tumor response, and patient outcome.
Results: No exon 5 mutation was found. Concerning the G870A polymorphism, the A/A variant was significantly associated with radiosensitivity (p = 0.022). Moreover, patients harboring the A allele were correlated with a lower risk of local failure (p = 0.017). Also, combination of the G870A polymorphism with the post-therapeutic lymph node status allowed the elaboration of a prognostic index, which accurately distinguished subgroups of patients with predictable recurrence-free (p = 0.003) and overall (p = 0.044) survival.
Conclusions: Although CCND1 exon 5 mutations are rare in rectal cancer, G870A polymorphism is a frequent variation that may predict radiosensitivity and prognosis.