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Updated: Nov 15, 2025

Mimicking and Manipulating Pancreatic Acinar-to-Ductal Metaplasia in 3-dimensional Cell Culture
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KRAS mutation in pancreatic cancer

Ji Luo1

  • 1Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD.

Seminars in Oncology
|March 7, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Pancreatic cancer has low survival rates, but new KRAS inhibitors show promise. Targeting the KRAS oncogene offers a potential therapeutic strategy for this challenging disease.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Drug Discovery

Background:

  • Pancreatic cancer is a deadly disease with poor prognosis.
  • The KRAS oncogene is frequently mutated and drives tumor growth.
  • Current therapies targeting KRAS pathways have limited efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of mutant KRAS in pancreatic cancer.
  • To discuss emerging therapeutic strategies targeting KRAS signaling.
  • To summarize recent advancements in KRAS-targeted therapies.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on KRAS mutations in pancreatic cancer.
  • Analysis of preclinical and clinical data for KRAS-targeted inhibitors.
  • Synthesis of information on KRAS signaling pathways and therapeutic interventions.

Main Results:

  • KRAS mutations are a key driver in pancreatic cancer.
  • Covalent inhibitors targeting KRAS G12C demonstrate early clinical promise.
  • Targeting KRAS signaling remains a critical therapeutic avenue.

Conclusions:

  • Despite challenges, targeting KRAS offers a viable strategy for pancreatic cancer treatment.
  • Novel KRAS inhibitors, particularly for KRAS G12C mutations, represent a significant advancement.
  • Further research and clinical trials are essential to optimize KRAS-targeted therapies.
Keywords:
G12CKRASMAPK pathwayPancreatic cancerTargeted therapy

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