SUNY Upstate Medical University researchers study KRAS G12C mutations

Researchers at SUNY Upstate Medical University have published a study in Oncotarget regarding the incidence of KRAS G12C mutations in genitourinary malignancies. The study aimed to define the frequency and genomic characteristics of this mutation, which has become a significant target for precision medicine due to the development of mutation-specific inhibitors.

By performing comprehensive genomic profiling on 13,654 tumor specimens from patients with metastatic disease, the team analyzed renal clear cell carcinomas, urothelial bladder carcinomas, and prostate acinar adenocarcinomas. The findings revealed that KRAS alterations were present in 2.7% of the total cohort, while the specific KRAS G12C variant was found in only 0.2% of all specimens.

Specific findings included no G12C variants in renal clear cell carcinomas. In urothelial bladder carcinoma, 12% of KRAS-altered tumors carried the G12C variant. In contrast, only one of the 158 KRAS-altered prostate tumors contained the variant. The study noted that KRAS G12C-positive tumors showed significantly more KDM6A alterations and fewer TERT co-alterations compared to negative tumors.