Japanese Society of Medical Oncology Clinical Guidelines: Molecular Testing for Colorectal Cancer Treatment, Third Edition

<jats:p>The Japanese Society of Medical Oncology (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">JSMO</jats:styled-content>) previously published 2 editions of the clinical guidelines: “Japanese guidelines for testing of <jats:italic><jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">KRAS</jats:styled-content></jats:italic> gene mutation in colorectal cancer” in 2008 and “Japanese Society of Medical Oncology Clinical Guidelines: <jats:italic><jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">RAS</jats:styled-content></jats:italic> (<jats:italic><jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">KRAS</jats:styled-content></jats:italic>/<jats:italic><jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">NRAS</jats:styled-content></jats:italic>) mutation testing in colorectal cancer patients” in 2014. These guidelines have contributed to the proper use of <jats:italic><jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">KRAS</jats:styled-content></jats:italic> and <jats:italic><jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">RAS</jats:styled-content></jats:italic> mutation testing, respectively. Recently, clinical utility, particularly for colorectal cancer (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">CRC</jats:styled-content>) patients with <jats:italic><jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">BRAF</jats:styled-content> </jats:italic>V600E mutation or <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">DNA</jats:styled-content> mismatch‐repair (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">MMR</jats:styled-content>) deficiency, has been established. Therefore, the guideline members decided these genetic alterations should also be involved. The aim of this revision is to properly carry out testing for <jats:italic><jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">BRAF</jats:styled-content></jats:italic> V600E mutation and <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">MMR</jats:styled-content> deficiency in addition to <jats:italic><jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">RAS</jats:styled-content></jats:italic> mutation. The revised guidelines include the basic requirements for testing for these genetic alterations based on recent scientific evidence. Furthermore, because clinical utility of comprehensive genetic testing using next‐generation sequencing and somatic gene testing of analyzing circulating tumor <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">DNA</jats:styled-content> has increasingly evolved with recent advancements in testing technology, we noted the current situation and prospects for these testing technologies and their clinical implementation in the revised guidelines.</jats:p>