- Home
- Companies
- EntroGen, Inc.
- Products
- KRAS and BRAF Mutation Analysis Kits
KRAS and BRAF Mutation Analysis Kits
The KRAS gene encodes a small GTPase that plays a key role in transducing signals from the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) to downstream effectors. KRAS mutations have been commonly found in several types of human malignancies, such as metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), lung adenocarcinoma and thyroid cancer. The most common mutations are found in codons 12, 13 and 61. Several studies have demonstrated that tumors carrying any of these mutant forms of the KRAS gene are less likely to respond to anti-EGFR antibody therapy. The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) recently released its first Provisional Clinical Opinion (PCO) suggesting that all patients to be administered anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody therapy (e.g. cetuximab, panitumumab and erlotnib) should be screened for KRAS mutations. Recent studies have also shown that not all mCRC patients with wild-type KRAS tumors respond to anti-EGFR therapy.
- Limit of Detection at less than 1%
- Highly sensitive and specific
- Works with FFPE, fresh frozen and FNA samples
- Simple setup and interpretation
- Works on most real-time PCR instruments
- Available as RUO and CE-IVD
This suggests that additional genes and/or pathways may be involved in the mechanism of resistance to these drugs. Mutations in BRAF, another downstream effector of the EGF-activated pathway, have been identified in up to 8% of mCRC tumors. Studies with mCRC patients have shown resistance to anti-EGFR therapy in patients with tumors expressing mutated BRAF. Those same individuals also had decreased progression-free (PFS) and overall (OS) survival when treated with EGFR antagonists. These findings strongly suggest that screening for both KRAS and BRAF mutations is necessary to more accurately identify tumor cells that will not respond to anti-EGFR drugs.
