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SPARK
SPARK Study
Studying PAthways of Resistance in KRAS-driven Cancers

What is a KRAS mutation in lung cancer?

The KRAS gene serves as an information hub for signals in the cell that lead to cell growth. A KRAS mutation is an error that occurs in the protein of normal cells. When this error (or mutation) occurs, KRAS sends too many signals—and cells grow on their own. This change is one possible cause of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).  

If you’ve been diagnosed with lung cancer, it’s important to undergo comprehensive biomarker testing to find out whether you have KRAS-positive lung cancer or another genetic mutation. The KRAS mutation is found in about 25 out of every 100 (20–25%) NSCLC cases, making it one of the most common gene mutations.

How a KRAS mutation impacts lung cancer diagnosis

Every person’s cancer is different. Understanding whether you have a gene mutation can inform your treatment options and help your healthcare team develop the best treatment plan for you. As more treatment options become available, we recommend that everyone diagnosed with NSCLC receives comprehensive biomarker testing.  

Biomarker testing (also called molecular testing) looks for changes in genes or proteins, like KRAS, that may be associated with your cancer. In most cases, this involves testing a piece of tissue from the cancer (a biopsy). The sample from the cancerous tumor is then run through a machine to identify mutations, such as KRAS. If a KRAS mutation is found in your lung cancer biopsy, it may be called KRAS-positive lung cancer.

KRAS-positive lung cancer appears to be more common in people who have smoked or been exposed to asbestos. While the KRAS mutation is found in up to 25% of all people diagnosed with lung cancer, it is more common in white populations. In fact, 25–50% of white individuals diagnosed with lung cancer have a KRAS mutation. KRAS mutations have also been found in 5–15% of Asians diagnosed with NSCLC.  

If you have KRAS-positive lung cancer, talk to your healthcare team about your treatment options.

Treatment options for KRAS mutations in lung cancer

If you have been diagnosed with KRAS-positive lung cancer, this gives your healthcare team important information to guide them in developing your best treatment plan. As a first-line treatment, a person diagnosed with KRAS-positive lung cancer may receive surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, or a combination of these treatments based on their specific diagnosis. Knowing if you have a KRAS mutation can also open the door to targeted therapy.  

Right now, there are 2 targeted therapy treatments approved for KRAS lung cancer. Krazati (adagrasib) and LumaKRAS (sotorasib) are used for locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC with a specific KRAS mutation called G12C, following at least 1 line of systemic treatment, such as chemotherapy. Treatment with Krazati (adagrasib) or LumaKRAS (sotorasib) is not appropriate for all individuals with KRAS-positive lung cancer, and a KRAS G12C mutation must first be confirmed by biomarker testing.

While there have been advances in treatment options for KRAS-positive lung cancer in recent years, researchers are still working to better understand KRAS in lung cancer. Their goal is to find new and better treatment options to help save lives. GO2 for Lung Cancer is helping to support this research through our medical research consortium, the Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute (ALCMI), and ALCMI’s SPARK study.

How a KRAS mutation impacts lung cancer diagnosis

Every person’s cancer is different. Understanding whether you have a gene mutation can inform your treatment options and help your healthcare team develop the best treatment plan for you. As more treatment options become available, we recommend that everyone diagnosed with NSCLC receives comprehensive biomarker testing.  

Biomarker testing (also called molecular testing) looks for changes in genes or proteins, like KRAS, that may be associated with your cancer. In most cases, this involves testing a piece of tissue from the cancer (a biopsy). The sample from the cancerous tumor is then run through a machine to identify mutations, such as KRAS. If a KRAS mutation is found in your lung cancer biopsy, it may be called KRAS-positive lung cancer.

KRAS-positive lung cancer appears to be more common in people who have smoked or been exposed to asbestos. While the KRAS mutation is found in up to 25% of all people diagnosed with lung cancer, it is more common in white populations. In fact, 25–50% of white individuals diagnosed with lung cancer have a KRAS mutation. KRAS mutations have also been found in 5–15% of Asians diagnosed with NSCLC.  

If you have KRAS-positive lung cancer, talk to your healthcare team about your treatment options.

Treatment options for KRAS mutations in lung cancer

If you have been diagnosed with KRAS-positive lung cancer, this gives your healthcare team important information to guide them in developing your best treatment plan. As a first-line treatment, a person diagnosed with KRAS-positive lung cancer may receive surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, or a combination of these treatments based on their specific diagnosis. Knowing if you have a KRAS mutation can also open the door to targeted therapy.  

Right now, there are 2 targeted therapy treatments approved for KRAS lung cancer. Krazati (adagrasib) and LumaKRAS (sotorasib) are used for locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC with a specific KRAS mutation called G12C, following at least 1 line of systemic treatment, such as chemotherapy. Treatment with Krazati (adagrasib) or LumaKRAS (sotorasib) is not appropriate for all individuals with KRAS-positive lung cancer, and a KRAS G12C mutation must first be confirmed by biomarker testing.

While there have been advances in treatment options for KRAS-positive lung cancer in recent years, researchers are still working to better understand KRAS in lung cancer. Their goal is to find new and better treatment options to help save lives. GO2 for Lung Cancer is helping to support this research through our medical research consortium, the Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute (ALCMI), and ALCMI’s SPARK study.

About the SPARK research study

While there are drugs for individuals with KRAS-positive lung cancer that slow cancer growth, many lose their effectiveness over time as the cancer finds ways to avoid the therapies by developing new mutations. Better understanding the biology behind resistance to KRAS inhibitors has the potential to lead to new therapies and new combinations—and increase KRAS-positive lung cancer survival rates.

The SPARK research study is designed to help understand treatment resistance in KRAS-positive lung cancer. We are looking for genetic changes in the KRAS gene that could help us understand why cancer has developed drug resistance. If you have KRAS-positive lung cancer, you may be eligible to participate.

The SPARK study is being done in collaboration with our medical research consortium, the Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute (ALCMI), and is being led by Dr. Mark Awad MD, PhD at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

SPARK is closed for enrollment. The study has reached an important stage in its investigation and is preparing to present its findings.

Frequently asked questions

What is KRAS-positive lung cancer?

KRAS-positive cancer refers to any lung cancer that tests positive for a KRAS mutation. A KRAS mutation occurs when the “on-off switch” that tells cells to grow fails and instead sends out too many signals—causing cells to grow on their own. This may lead to diseases such as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

How do you test for a KRAS mutation in lung cancer?  

Testing for a KRAS mutation involves biomarker testing. Biomarker testing, also called molecular testing, looks for biological changes in genes or proteins, like KRAS, that may be associated with your cancer. In most cases, this involves testing a piece of tissue from the cancer (a biopsy). The sample from the cancerous tumor is then run through a machine to identify mutations, such as KRAS.  

Are there different types of KRAS mutations?  

There are multiple types of KRAS mutations, some of which may help your healthcare team plan the best treatment plan for you. About half of people diagnosed with KRAS-positive lung cancer have a KRAS G12C mutation, which may provide targeted therapy as a treatment option.

What are the treatment options for KRAS lung cancer?

There are currently 2 FDA-approved targeted therapies for KRAS-positive non-small cell lung cancer. Krazati (adagrasib) and LumaKRAS (sotorasib) are both approved for locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC with a specific KRAS mutation called G12C, following at least one line of systemic treatment, such as chemotherapy. Treatment with Krazati (adagrasib) or LumaKRAS (sotorasib) is not appropriate for all individuals with KRAS-positive lung cancer and a KRAS G12C mutation must first be confirmed by biomarker testing.

Who is most likely to have a KRAS mutation?

While the KRAS mutation is found in 15–25% of all people diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer, it is more common in white populations. In fact, 25–50% of all white individuals diagnosed with lung cancer have a KRAS mutation. KRAS mutations have also been reported in 5–15% of Asians diagnosed with NSCLC and is more common in people who have smoked or been exposed to asbestos.