title: KRAS mutation testing in clinical practice.
abstract: Activating mutation of KRAS plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of common human malignancies and molecular testing of KRAS mutation has emerged as an essential biomarker in the current practice of clinical oncology. The presence of KRAS mutation is generally associated with clinical aggressiveness of the cancer and reduced survival of the patient. Therapeutically, KRAS mutation testing has maximum utility in stratifying metastatic colorectal carcinoma and lung cancer patients for treatment with targeted therapy. Diagnostically, KRAS mutation testing is useful in the workup of pancreaticobiliary and thyroid cancers, particularly using cytological specimens. In the era of precision medicine, the role of KRAS mutation testing is poised to expand, likely in a setting of combinatorial therapeutic strategy and requiring additional mutation testing of its upstream and/or downstream effectors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, 310 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520-8023, USA.
authors.forename: Sudhir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perincheri
authors.forename: Pei
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hui
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005260:Female; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000379:methods*; D023281:Genomics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D059645:Mutation Rate; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); D015398:Signal Transduction; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C117307:KRAS protein, human; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); D018631:ras Proteins
keywords: KRAS; clinical oncology; mutation testing