The 10 Most Mentioned Cancer Genes in Recruiting Trials
In the GeneAnalyses snapshot taken on 8 September 2026, HER2, EGFR and KRAS led a 37-gene index of currently recruiting cancer studies. The ranking measures registry mentions, not successful trials, patient numbers, approvals or biological importance.
Quick Answer
In the GeneAnalyses snapshot taken on 8 September 2026, HER2, EGFR and KRAS led a 37-gene index of currently recruiting cancer studies. The ranking measures registry mentions, not successful trials, patient numbers, approvals or biological importance.
Side-by-side comparison
GeneAnalyses Oncology Trial Activity Index, 8 September 2026. A study can appear in more than one row.
| Rank | Gene term | Recruiting cancer studies mentioning term |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HER2 | 1,022 |
| 2 | EGFR | 691 |
| 3 | KRAS | 312 |
| 4 | KIT | 218 |
| 5 | CDK4 | 180 |
| 6 | RB1 | 161 |
| 7 | BRAF | 156 |
| 8 | BCL2 | 125 |
| 9 | BRCA1 | 109 |
| 10 | TP53 | 103 |
What the Ranking Measures
Each gene symbol was queried separately through the ClinicalTrials.gov API v2, with condition set to cancer and overall status set to recruiting. The returned total is a count of study records matching that text query at one point in time.
The method is reproducible and useful for monitoring research attention, but it is not a count of unique trials across the whole table. One record can mention several genes and therefore appear in several rows.
Why the Top Ten Look So Different
The leading terms span several research contexts. HER2 and EGFR are receptor biomarkers used in eligibility, pathology and treatment descriptions; KRAS and BRAF are often specified by variant; CDK4, RB1, BCL2 and TP53 can appear in mechanism, molecular-selection or exploratory-biomarker fields.
A larger number therefore can reflect wider terminology and use across tumour types, not a stronger drug effect or a larger eligible population.
How to Use the List
Use a row as a discovery prompt. Open the underlying registry results, identify the tumour type and intervention, and then inspect phase, comparator, endpoints, recruitment locations and last update date.
For trend analysis, compare like-for-like snapshots produced with the same query and filters. A change can reflect genuinely new studies, status changes or edited registry wording.
What the List Cannot Tell You
Registry status does not establish efficacy. Recruiting studies may be observational, early phase, biomarker-led or testing combinations with very different evidential goals.
The index also does not resolve gene-symbol ambiguity. Short symbols such as KIT may occur in contexts that require manual review, while HER2 and ERBB2 naming can distribute related records across different search terms.
Key Takeaways
- ·HER2, EGFR and KRAS led this dated text-search snapshot.
- ·Rows overlap and must not be added into a total trial count.
- ·The downloadable index is a monitoring tool; study records remain the source for interpretation.
Put these genes in pathway context
Frequently asked questions
What is the key idea in The 10 Most Mentioned Cancer Genes in Recruiting Trials?
In the GeneAnalyses snapshot taken on 8 September 2026, HER2, EGFR and KRAS led a 37-gene index of currently recruiting cancer studies. The ranking measures registry mentions, not successful trials, patient numbers, approvals or biological importance.
What should be kept with the result or mechanism?
HER2, EGFR and KRAS led this dated text-search snapshot. Rows overlap and must not be added into a total trial count. The downloadable index is a monitoring tool; study records remain the source for interpretation.
References
- 1ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 documentation. ClinicalTrials.gov, 2026. ClinicalTrials.gov
- 2Recruiting cancer studies mentioning HER2. ClinicalTrials.gov API, 2026. ClinicalTrials.gov
- 3Recruiting cancer studies mentioning EGFR. ClinicalTrials.gov API, 2026. ClinicalTrials.gov
- 4Recruiting cancer studies mentioning KRAS. ClinicalTrials.gov API, 2026. ClinicalTrials.gov
Continue Reading
EGFR vs KRAS Trial Activity: What the Counts Mean
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Why HER2 Appears Above EGFR in Recruiting Trial Searches
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KRAS Mutations: Constitutive MAPK Signalling and Targeted Therapy
6 min read
Clinical Trial Phases Explained: From First-in-Human to Confirmation
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HER2 Amplification: Mechanism, Targeted Therapy, and Resistance
4 min read
EGFR Resistance After Successive TKI Generations
3 min read
Choose your next research step
Move from this explanation into a gene profile, a pathway map, or the next evidence update.
HER2 has 1000+ trials currently recruiting on ClinicalTrials.gov. The GeneAnalyses digest summarises the new and changed ones each day.