New Duke Study Provides Insights Into How KRAS Mutations Influence Outcomes in Patients with PDAC

A team of Duke Surgery researchers has published a new study in JCO Precision Oncology that provides insights into how distinct KRAS mutations influence survival outcomes in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the third-leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the United States.

The study, titled, "Prognostic Implications of Codon‑Specific KRAS Mutations in Localized and Advanced Stages of Pancreatic Cancer," was a collaborative effort by multiple Duke Surgery laboratories, including groups led by senior author Zahra Kabiri, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Surgery; Daniel Nussbaum, MD, Associate Professor of Surgery; and Peter Allen, MD, Professor of Surgery. The study was also done in partnership with the Duke Surgery Laboratory for Transformative Administration (LTA), and with the statistical expertise of Donna Niedzwiecki, PhD, Professor of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics.

Because KRAS G12V is among the most common mutations in PDAC, the study's findings may have implications for treatment strategies, therapeutic development, precision medicine approaches, and clinical trial design in the context of emerging RAS‑directed therapies.

The full study is available to read now on the JCO Precision Oncology website.