Therapeutic Targeting of KRAS Oncogene in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC)

Abstract

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive lethal malignancy due to lack of early diagnosis, rapid progression, and limited response to treatment. It accounts for more than 90% of pancreatic cancer cases. It was discovered that about 85% of these patients harbor mutations in the Kirsten Rat Sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) gene. These findings position the KRAS gene as the primary target for PDAC inhibitor development. Furthermore, the KRAS gene can also be used as a hallmark for diagnosis and an indicator of the prognosis for PDAC. In this review, the recent advancements in understanding the molecular basis of PDAC, treatment strategies, as well as clinical trials in progress are thoroughly evaluated through a review of the literature and a comparison of clinical trial outcomes.