Abstract
Erlotinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor which acts on the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), is used to treat advanced NSCLC. KRAS gene mutations are seen in approximately 15–25 % of patients with NSCLC, most commonly those with adenocarcinoma and smokers.
Although KRAS mutations represent a negative prognostic factor, their role in predicting resistance to EGFR-TKIs remains unknown. Some studies have shown that KRAS mutations predict resistance to EGFR-TKIs.
However, this hypothesis has not been confirmed by other studies, including large phase III clinical trials. The role of a specific type of KRAS mutations in predicting the effect of EGFR-TKI therapy has been widely discussed recently.
The authors present a case report of a patient with metastatic NSCLC and KRAS (G12S) gene mutation who benefited from erlotinib therapy.