title: KRAS mutations: analytical considerations.
abstract: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer and the second most common cause of cancer death globally. Significant improvements in survival have been made in patients with metastasis by new therapies. For example, Cetuximab and Panitumumab are monoclonal antibodies that inhibit the epidermal growth receptor (EGFR). KRAS mutations in codon 12 and 13 are the recognized biomarkers that are analyzed in clinics before the administration of anti-EGFR therapy. Genetic analyses have revealed that mutations in KRAS predict a lack of response to Panitumumab and Cetuximab in patients with metastatic CRC (mCRC). Notably, it is estimated that 35-45% of CRC patients harbor KRAS mutations. Therefore, KRAS mutation testing should be performed in all individuals with the advanced CRC in order to identify the patients who will not respond to the monoclonal EGFR antibody inhibitors. New techniques for KRAS testing have arisen rapidly, and each technique has advantages and disadvantages. Herein, we review the latest published literature specific to KRAS mutation testing techniques. Since reliability and feasibility are important issues in clinical analyses. Therefore, this review also summarizes the effectiveness and limitations of numerous KRAS mutation testing techniques.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital Donostia/Instituto Biodonostia, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Universidad del País Vasco UPV/EHU, San Sebastián, Spain.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Herreros-Villanueva
authors.affiliation: Center for Lipid Biosciences, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Biomedical Technology and Device Research Laboratories, Industrial Technology Research Institute, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chih-Chieh
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Research, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Translational Research Center, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shyng-Shiou F
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Division of Molecular Diagnostics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ta-Chih
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Translational Research Center, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Division of Molecular Diagnostics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Electronic address: tzekiong@totalbb.net.tw.
authors.forename: Tze-Kiong
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Er
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics*; D018773:Genes, erbB-1 / Q000235:genetics; D011905:Genes, ras / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D057285:Precision Medicine; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); D018631:ras Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C117307:KRAS protein, human; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); D018631:ras Proteins
keywords: Colorectal cancer; KRAS gene; Method and mutation analysis; Mutation