V-Ki-ras2 Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog also known as KRAS is a protein which in humans is encoded by the KRAS gene. KRAS has been extensively studied in a wide array of human malignancies, including mCRC. Mutant KRAS can be detected in approximately 30-50% of colorectal cancers. The Ras-Raf-MAPK pathway lies just downstream of EGFR.

We have found a novel fusion product between the echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like4 (EML4) and the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) in non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs). Tumors featuring EML4-ALK fusion constitute one subtype of NSCLC that might be highly sensitive to ALK inhibitors. Herein, we present results of a first large scale study of EML4-ALK fusion in lung cancers.

The presence of the V600E mutation in the BRAF gene is associated with poor prognosis and non response to anti-EGFR therapy in advanced stage colorectal cancer patients. Studies show that colorectal cancer patients with wild-type KRAS failed to respond when treated with either cetuximab or panitumumab and experienced a shorter progression-free survival and overall survival, when the BRAF mutation was present, compared to patients with wild-type BRAF tumors.1