RF5 - Comparative Molecular Analysis of Colorectal Cancer in Saudi Arabia: Distinct Genetic Alterations and Clinical Features

Saturday, May 10, 2025

3:50 PM – 3:54 PM PT

Location: Ballroom 6B, Upper Level

Abstract Podium Presenter(s)

MA

Maha Abdulla, PHD

Associate Professor
King Saud University
Riyadh, Ar Riyad, Saudi Arabia

All of the relevant financial relationships listed below have been mitigated.
This individual has no financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Author(s)

JA

Jumanah Alshenaifi, PhD

PhD student
King Saud University
MD Anderson Medical Center Houston, Texas, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
MV

Mansoor-Ali Vaali-Mohammed, PhD

Researcher
King Saud University
Riyadh, Ar Riyad, Saudi Arabia

Disclosure information not submitted.
AZ

Ahmad Mohmmad Zubaidi, Professor

Professor
Home
Riyadh, Ar Riyad, Saudi Arabia

Disclosure information not submitted.
Khayal Alkhayal, Professor

Professor
King Saud University
King Saud University
Riyadh, Ar Riyad, Saudi Arabia

Disclosure information not submitted.
KA

Khalid AlSaleh, Professor

Professor
King Saud University
Riyadh, Ar Riyad, Saudi Arabia

Disclosure information not submitted.
OA

Omar Al Obeed, Professor

Professor
King Saud University
Riyadh, Ar Riyad, Saudi Arabia

Disclosure information not submitted.

Senior Author(s)

SK

Scott Kopetz, Professor

Professor
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, Texas, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.

Submitting Author(s)

MA

Maha Abdulla, PHD

Associate Professor
King Saud University
Riyadh, Ar Riyad, Saudi Arabia

All of the relevant financial relationships listed below have been mitigated.
This individual has no financial relationships with ineligible companies.

All of the relevant financial relationships listed below have been mitigated.

Maha Abdulla, PHD: This individual has no financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Image or Table (Do Not add text here):

Purpose/Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks as the third most common cancer globally but emerges as the leading cancer among males and the second most prevalent among females in Saudi Arabia, where over 70% of cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage. This presents a significant public health challenge and underscores the need for in-depth analysis of CRC's molecular and phenotypic characteristics within the Saudi population to mitigate the rising disease impact.

Methods/Interventions: Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) was performed on 50 CRC patients from the Saudi population, diagnosed with microsatellite stable (MSS) adenocarcinoma tumors. These samples, accompanied by clinicopathological data, were obtained from the Colorectal Cancer Research Center at King Saud University Medical Center (KSUMC). These patients were compared with similar cohorts of 131 patients from MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) and 309 from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). We applied the identical bioinformatic pipelines and analysis.

Results/Outcomes: Analysis uncovered distinct molecular patterns in Saudi CRC cases, with significantly lower frequencies of APC mutations (47.8% compared to 77.9% at MDACC and 79% in TCGA, p-value < 0.001), CTNNB1 mutations (0% compared to 2.3% at MDACC and 10% in TCGA, p-value < 0.001), and KRAS mutations (6.5% compared to 45.0% at MDACC and 41.1% in TCGA, p-value < 0.001). Conversely, TP53 mutations were more prevalent in the Saudi cohort (50.0% vs. 35.9% MDACC and 43.0% TCGA, p-value < 0.05). Additionally, a higher incidence of sigmoid disease (41.7% vs. 24.4% MDACC and 25.6% TCGA, p-value < 0.05) and a younger average age at diagnosis (58 years) were observed in Saudi patients compared to those at MDACC and TCGA.

Conclusion/Discussion: The findings indicate a unique CRC molecular profile in the Saudi population, emphasizing the need for population-specific data to enhance CRC diagnostic, screening, and treatment strategies in Saudi Arabia.