Fig. 6

Kaplan–Meier plot of sequential genetic mutations with different orders. a Kaplan–Meier analysis of patients with sequential KRAS, APC somatic mutations revealed a significantly poor survival outcome, with log-rank p-values of 0.009. b There were no significant differences in patients with sequential genetic APC, KRAS somatic mutations (p-values of 0.8). c BRCA2, APC somatic mutations also led to a significantly poor survival outcome, with log-rank p-values of 0.01. d There were no significant differences in patients with APC, BRCA2 somatic mutations (p-values of 0.2). CRC patients with the sequential KRAS, APC or BRCA2, APC somatic mutations had a worse prognosis than patients without sequential somatic mutations. Sequential APC, KRAS and APC, BRCA2 somatic mutations were not associated with recurrence-free survival. The 4-year probability of RFS according to KRAS, APC somatic mutations (probability = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.19–0.86) were less than APC, KRAS somatic mutations (probability = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.55–0.92). The 4-year probability of RFS according to BRCA2, APC somatic mutations (probability = 0.20, 95% CI = 0.03–1) were less than APC, BRCA2 somatic mutations (probability = 0.5, 95% CI = 0.29–0.85)