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Updated: Mar 24, 2026

Author Spotlight: Advancements in Molecular Biomarker Testing for Non-Squamous Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Published on: September 8, 2023
The Prognostic Role of KRAS Mutation in Patients with Advanced NSCLC Treated with Second- or Third-line Chemotherapy
Martin Svaton1, Ondrej Fiala2, Milos Pesek3
1Department of Pneumology, University Hospital Pilsen, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic svatonm@gmail.com.
Background/Aim:
The prognostic and predictive value of Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) mutation in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is not well established. The present study aimed at the elucidation of the role of KRAS mutation in prediction of outcome of patients with advanced NSCLC receiving second- or third-line chemotherapy.
Patients And Methods:
The outcome of 127 patients with advanced NSCLC who recieved pemetrexed or docetaxel at second- or third-line therapy was retrospectively analyzed.
Results:
Progression-free survival was not significantly different between patients with KRAS mutation and those with wild-type KRAS. The results were the same even when taking into account the specific KRAS mutation. Overall survival was significantly longer for patients with wild-type KRAS vs. those with KRAS mutation (16.1 vs. 7.2 months, p=0,008). We observed shorter overall survival for those with G12C KRAS mutation vs. other KRAS mutations (median 10.3 vs. 6.4 months, p=0.011).
Conclusion:
The presence of KRAS mutation (especially KRAS G12C mutation) correlated with adverse prognosis in patients treated with second- or third-line pemetrexed or docetaxel.
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