KRAS mutational status is known to be both a prognostic and predictive biomarker in patients with colorectal cancer. Specifically, mutations in ‘hotspot’ codons of the KRAS gene are associated with more aggressive disease in these individuals and with a poor response to EGFR inhibitors. However, recent work from Gillian Smith and colleagues might increase the clinical utility of this biomarker, as the authors have identified additional KRAS mutations that they recommend for inclusion in routine screening of KRAS mutational status in these patients. “We realized that there has been no systematic assessment of KRAS mutation burden outwith the hotspot codons, so we decided to screen the entire KRAS gene for mutations in a cohort of patients with colorectal cancer,” explains Smith.
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