Rapid and Specific Screening Assay for KRAS Oncogene Mutation by a Novel Gene Amplification Method.

Background: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a target of molecular therapeutics for colorectal cancer. However, mutation of Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) gene at codons 12 and 13 attenuates the therapeutic effect of anti-EGFR therapies. Therefore, the detection of KRAS gene mutation is important for therapeutic decision-making.

Methods: KRAS gene mutation at codons 12 (c.34G>T, c.35G>C, c.35G>A) and 13 (c.38G>A) in six cancer cell lines were investigated. A loop-mediated isothermal amplification-based procedure was developed that employed peptide nucleic acid to suppress amplification of the wild-type allele.

Results: This mutation-oriented gene-amplification procedure can amplify the DNA fragment of the KRAS gene with codon 12 and codon 13 mutation within 30 min. Moreover, boiled cells can work as template resources.

Conclusions: This newly developed procedure can be useful for patient stratification for anti-EGFR therapies.