KRAS
Medically Reviewed by Jonathan W. Riess, MD, MS
Germline (hereditary) and somatic mutation
Roles in cell function
- Acts like a switch in signal transmission from outside the cell to the cell nucleus
- Is able to instruct cells to grow, divide (proliferate) and mature with specialized functions (differentiate)
- Cells with mutated KRAS are constantly being activated and grow without control to form cancerous tumors
Types of cancer linked to mutation
- Non-small cell lung cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Gastric cancer
- Esophageal adenocarcinoma
Related: KRAS-positive lung cancer