KRAS mutated NSCLC: past, present, and future directions in a rapidly evolving landscape
A. S. Frisch, Éric Martin, So Yeon Kim, Jonathan W. Riess, Triparna Sen, Nagla Abdel Karim
Abstract
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is among one of the most common and deadliest malignancies worldwide. With this new era of precision medicine, oncogenic driver genes and immunotherapy have changed the way we classify and treat this disease. Among these genes, the Kirsten rat sarcoma virus (KRAS) gene is the most mutated in NSCLC and has been the focus of numerous clinical trials for targeted therapy over the past few years. Here, we present an in-depth literature review of past, present, and future KRAS mutated NSCLC treatment with KRAS inhibitor monotherapy and combinatorial approaches including immunotherapy. The molecular biology behind KRAS targeted therapy is discussed while highlighting the difficulties of KRAS inhibitor treatment, including resistance, and the next steps needed to overcome them.