Which signal transduction pathway leads to cancer?

The two RAS signaling pathways most prominently associated with cancer are the MAP kinase pathway regulating cell proliferation and the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway that regulates cell metabolism and survival (Figure 1). Figure 1. The RAS signaling pathway.

What are oncogenic pathways?

Intricate networks of multiple signaling pathways that cross interact with each other, control the growth and progression of a tumor.

What two pathways are disrupted in cancer cells?

We therefore focus primarily on two pathways—Ras-ERK (Morrison 2012) and PI3K-Akt signaling (Hemmings and Restuccia 2012)—that play central roles in multiple processes associated with cancer, while highlighting the involvement of some other key signaling molecules.

What is abnormal signal transduction in cancer?

Signal transduction is important for cells to grow and work normally. Cells that have abnormal signaling molecules may become cancer cells. Also called cell signaling.

How are proto-oncogenes involved in signal transduction?

Proto-oncogenes are often involved in signal transduction and execution of mitogenic signals, usually through their protein products. Upon acquiring an activating mutation, a proto-oncogene becomes a tumor-inducing agent, an oncogene.

Are there any accepted systems for classifying oncogenes?

There are several systems for classifying oncogenes, but there is not yet a widely accepted standard. They are sometimes grouped both spatially (moving from outside the cell inwards) and chronologically (parallelling the “normal” process of signal transduction).

How are oncogenes related to the development of cancer?

Oncogene. If normal genes promoting cellular growth, through mutation, are up-regulated, (gain of function mutation) they will predispose the cell to cancer and are thus termed oncogenes. Usually multiple oncogenes, along with mutated apoptotic and/or tumor suppressor genes will all act in concert to cause cancer.

What happens when the oncogene protein is unregulated?

The unregulated expression of this protein activates other proteins that are involved in cell cycle and cell division which can cause a cell to grow and divide uncontrollably (the cell becomes cancerous).