KRAS (Kirsten RAt Sarcoma viral oncogene homolog) is a gene found in cells that is important for cell growth and survival.  

In some people, the KRAS gene begins to mutate or change, which can be a driving cause of cancer. When changes in the KRAS gene cause lung cancer, it’s called KRAS-positive or KRAS+ lung cancer. 

KRAS-positive lung cancer can be found through biomarker testing. Biomarker testing tells your healthcare team what mutations or changes cancer calls have, and your results can help guide your healthcare team to the best treatment for you. People with stages 1B through 4B (IB through IVB) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) should ask for comprehensive biomarker testing because it looks for all known biomarkers instead of just a few.

Scientists have found many different types of changes in KRAS in lung cancer. About half of people with a KRAS mutation in NSCLC have a change known as KRAS G12C, where a single change in the KRAS gene causes tumor growth. Currently, all FDA-approved targeted therapies for KRAS-positive lung cancer are for people with a KRAS G12C change, so knowing your specific change is an important part of understanding your treatment plan. 

• It is the most common genetic cause of NSCLC.  
• It occurs in about 25 out of every 100 cases (25%) of lung cancer. 
• It most often occurs in a type of NSCLC called adenocarcinoma. 
• People diagnosed with KRAS-positive lung cancer are more often older, men, and have a smoking history. 

If your biomarker testing finds that you have a change in the KRAS G12C gene, you will most likely be given a type of treatment known as a targeted therapy. Targeted therapies are a special type of drug that can "target" cancer cells based on what makes them different from healthy cells. Because of this, healthy cells in the body are often not affected by targeted therapies, resulting in fewer side effects.   

Most targeted therapy treatments come in the form of a pill, but a few are given through an IV or a port (a small tube inserted in a vein). The drug names that end in -ib are pills and can be taken at home. The drug names that end in -mab are given through an IV at a cancer center. 

Below is a list of targeted therapy drugs that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use with NSCLC KRAS G12C. The FDA approves each drug for use in NSCLC at specific stages of the disease.  

Everyone is different, and the side effects you may have while receiving treatment can vary. Some people experience side effects, while others don’t. Ask a member of your healthcare team about the possible side effects of your treatment and when to seek medical attention.