KRAS - Variant Positive?

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jw523
jw523 Member Posts: 87
edited November 2015 in Clinical Trials, Research News, Podcasts, and Study Results

I participated in the Yale/Army of Women study and have found out that I am KRAS variant positive.  Anyone have anything on what this means as far as what to do going forward?  Is it that same as testing BRCA positive? 

 

I had IDC in 2010 with lumpectomy and radiation and have been fine since.  I see my DR on Oct. 6th but just want to get some info sooner.

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  • JohnSmith
    JohnSmith Member Posts: 651
    edited September 2014

    Here's a link that might help you:

    The KRAS-variant & Cancer Prevention

    Best of luck!

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  • HER-too
    HER-too Member Posts: 1
    edited November 2014

    Hi there! I was in that study, too. Even though I was negative, Dr. Weidhaas talked to me about it. If you still have questions after your doctor's appointment, go to her website, MiraKind.org and send her an email (Joanne@Mirakind.org). It is not the same as BRCA. She told me it shows up in 20-25 percent of women with breast cancer. Since your are positive, it definitely is worthwhile for you to know all you can and be your best advocate. Take care!

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  • jojo2373
    jojo2373 Member Posts: 662
    edited February 2015

    Anyone recently participating in the MiraKind study? I just sent my swab in last week.

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  • mary625
    mary625 Member Posts: 1,056
    edited February 2015

    I sent in mine 2-3 weeks ago. Haven't heard anything yet.

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  • jojo2373
    jojo2373 Member Posts: 662
    edited February 2015

    Glad to hear from another Mary - I did get an email saying they received mine.

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  • besa
    besa Member Posts: 1,088
    edited February 2015

    https://videocast.nih.gov/FutureEvents.asp

    Just wanted to post the link to an upcoming NIH lecture on Ras. The lecture can be viewed online as it is being given on February 10th at 4 PM or (hopefully) later after it has been archived. The lecture should last about an hour and 1/2. I don't know if it will be helpful or not but of course the topic is of interest.

    "Ras: a Cancer Mechanism and Target

    Frank McCormick, PhD, FRS, DSc (Hon) (UCSF, NCI)

    Susan Bates, MD (NCI)

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  • mary625
    mary625 Member Posts: 1,056
    edited February 2015

    Mirakind is going to charge $295 for the results and send them only to a doctor. I don't think I'm going to pursue it.

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  • coraleliz
    coraleliz Member Posts: 1,523
    edited March 2015

    I received an email saying I qualified for their study. It also stated that if I wanted to know my results it would cost me $295 & the results would only be given to my doctor. Maybe the price will come down if we wait it out?

    Knowing the results will not change my treatment. This is something that interests me & wouldn't mind helping out but not at that cost. Of course I want to know my results.



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  • JohnSmith
    JohnSmith Member Posts: 651
    edited November 2015

    New research related to the KRAS gene, here, called "New class of RNA tumor suppressors identified".

    Excerpt from article:
    A pair of RNA molecules originally thought to be no more than cellular housekeepers are deleted in over a quarter of common human cancers, according to researchers at the Stanford University. Breast cancer patients whose tumors lack the RNA molecules have poorer survival rates than their peers.
    The RNA molecules directly associate with and inhibit a well-known, cancer-associated protein called KRAS. In their absence, KRAS becomes hyperactive and issues continued signals to the cell to divide.
    "This is the first time an RNA molecule in this class has been shown to act as a powerful tumor suppressor," said Paul Khavari, MD, PhD, at Stanford. "It does so by inhibiting the function of one of the most powerful cancer-causing proteins in the cell."
    An oncogene is a gene that, when mutated, can cause cancer. The mutated gene creates a malfunctioning protein that encourages a cell to divide uncontrollably or enables it to sidestep the normal breakpoints that would halt cell division or launch a cellular suicide program to protect the organism.
    The KRAS protein is a product of an oncogene. The protein sits on a cell's outer membrane and functions as an on-off switch to control cell division. Normally, it helps cells respond appropriately to external signals calling for cell growth. When mutated, however, it encourages the cell to undergo repeated rounds of cell division. KRAS mutation is an essential step in the development of many human cancers.

    The researchers found that a pair of snoRNAs called SNORD50A/B had been deleted in 10 to 40% of tumors in 12 common human cancers, including skin, breast, ovarian, liver and lung.
    Khavari pointed out that many pharmaceutical companies have been striving unsuccessfully to find a way to block farnesyltransferase's ability to activate KRAS. Understanding the role of the SNORD50A/B RNAs in this process could open new doors to blocking KRAS function in cancer.

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