Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41650121›Full record

ArticlePloS one2026

RAF1 as a standalone therapeutic target in KRAS-driven lung adenocarcinoma: No added efficacy from co-targeting ARAF, EGFR, or DDR1.

Laura de-la-Puente-Ovejero, Ana Fernández-Rodríguez, Sarah Francoz, Gonzalo Aizpurua, Lucía Lomba-Riego, Matthias Drosten, Carmen Guerra, Mónica Musteanu, Mariano Barbacid, Sara García-Alonso

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Laura de-la-Puente-OvejeroExperimental Oncology Group, Tumor Biology Programme, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO), Madrid, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0835-7069
Ana Fernández-RodríguezExperimental Oncology Group, Tumor Biology Programme, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO), Madrid, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5486-6844
Sarah FrancozExperimental Oncology Group, Tumor Biology Programme, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO), Madrid, Spain.
Gonzalo AizpuruaExperimental Oncology Group, Tumor Biology Programme, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO), Madrid, Spain.
Lucía Lomba-RiegoExperimental Oncology Group, Tumor Biology Programme, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO), Madrid, Spain.
Matthias DrostenCentro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
Carmen GuerraExperimental Oncology Group, Tumor Biology Programme, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO), Madrid, Spain.
Mónica MusteanuCentro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1753-3765
Mariano BarbacidExperimental Oncology Group, Tumor Biology Programme, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO), Madrid, Spain.
Sara García-AlonsoExperimental Oncology Group, Tumor Biology Programme, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO), Madrid, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0561-4146

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectivesKRAS-mutant lung adenocarcinoma remains without effective targeted therapies for most patients, particularly those with non-G12C alleles or resistance to KRASG12C inhibitors. RAF1 is essential for KRAS-driven tumor maintenance through kinase-independent survival functions, making it an attractive candidate for targeted protein degradation. However, the therapeutic impact and safety of co-targeting RAF1 with related kinases remain unclear.

methodsWe used dual-recombinase genetically engineered mouse models of Kras+/G12V;Trp53-/- lung cancer to evaluate the effects of Raf1 ablation alone or in combination with Araf, Egfr, or Ddr1. Lung tumors were initiated by intranasal Ad5-CMV-FLPo delivery and allowed to reach CT-detectable size before inducing systemic gene deletion via tamoxifen-activated CreERT2. Tumor burden was monitored by longitudinal CT imaging and classified using RECIST-like criteria. Toxicity was assessed by body weight monitoring, histopathology of major organs, and survival analysis.

resultsRaf1 deletion induced robust tumor regression within two months, in more than 60% of lesions. Araf ablation alone or combined with Raf1 did not affect tumor initiation, progression, or regression rates. Similarly, neither genetic nor pharmacological EGFR inhibition (afatinib) improved responses to Raf1 ablation. Ddr1 co-deletion also failed to enhance therapeutic efficacy and slightly reduced response rates. None of the dual-targeting strategies increased systemic toxicity.

conclusionsRAF1 is a key, non-redundant vulnerability in KRAS-driven lung adenocarcinoma. Co-targeting ARAF, EGFR, or DDR1 provides no additional therapeutic benefit in established disease. The absence of adverse effects from ARAF co-deletion suggests that RAF1 degraders with partial cross-activity towards ARAF are likely to be safe. These findings provide a strong preclinical rationale for developing RAF1-targeted degradation as a monotherapy for these malignancies.

Indexed as

Adenocarcinoma of LungLung NeoplasmsProto-Oncogene Proteins c-rafProto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)AnimalsErbB ReceptorsFemaleHumansMiceErbB ReceptorsHras protein, mouseProto-Oncogene Proteins c-rafProto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)Raf1 protein, mouse

Identifiers

PMID41650121
PMCPMC12880662

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.