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Updated: Nov 10, 2025

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Targeting KRAS in Cancer: Promising Therapeutic Strategies

Lisa Maria Mustachio1,2, Anca Chelariu-Raicu3, Lorant Szekvolgyi4

  • 1Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.

Cancers
|April 3, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) mutations drive 25% of human cancers. This review explores KRAS

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Genetics

Background:

  • Activating mutations in Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) are implicated in approximately 25% of human cancers.
  • KRAS is a key mediator of tumorigenesis, primarily through the RAS/MAPK pathway.
  • Targeting KRAS has been challenging due to its 'difficult-to-target' nature.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of KRAS mutations in various cancer types.
  • To summarize key findings on strategies for inhibiting KRAS' oncogenic activity.
  • To provide a comprehensive analysis of KRAS pathways and mechanisms in tumors.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on KRAS mutations and therapeutic strategies.
  • Analysis of pathways and mechanisms associated with KRAS activity.
  • Synthesis of findings to identify potential therapeutic approaches.

Main Results:

  • KRAS mutations are prevalent across numerous cancer types.
  • Various strategies targeting different regulatory levels of KRAS have been investigated.
  • No single ideal strategy to overcome KRAS and its downstream effects has been definitively established.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding KRAS pathways and mechanisms is crucial for cancer therapy.
  • Further research is needed to identify optimal therapeutic strategies targeting KRAS.
  • This review provides a foundation for future work in developing effective KRAS-targeted treatments.
Keywords:
EGFRKRASMAPKcancermutationstargeted-therapy

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