KRAS mutations

KRAS (shortened name for the gene Kirsten RAt Sarcoma viral oncogene homolog) mutations are associated in a number of malignancies including:

• certain adenocarcinomas of the lung
• colorectal carcinoma 
• pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Several germline KRAS mutations have also been found to be associated with some syndromes such as:

• Noonan syndrome
• cardiofaciocutaneous syndrome
• serrated polyposis syndrome

The gene provides instructions for a protein called K-Ras, which is part of a signaling pathway (RAS/MAPK pathway), instructing the cell to grow and divide, or to mature and take on specialized functions (i.e. differentiate).

See also

• EGFR mutation​
• ROS1 mutation
• anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene rearrangements
• HER-2 mutations in lung cancer