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Targeting new anticancer drugs within signalling pathways regulated by the Ras GTPase superfamily (Review)

A Ramírez De Molina1, A Rodríguez-González, J C Lacal

  • 1Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, CSIC, Madrid, Spain.

International Journal of Oncology
|June 16, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Maintaining cellular homeostasis through regulated proliferation and apoptosis is crucial for organism function. Disruptions in these processes, particularly involving Ras and Rho signaling pathways, contribute to cancer development and are targets for new antitumoral drugs.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Physiological events like proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation maintain tissue homeostasis.
  • Cancer arises from dysregulated cellular events, altering the balance between cell death and proliferation.
  • Signaling pathways controlling these processes are key targets for anticancer drug development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of Ras and Rho proteins in mitogenic signaling and carcinogenesis.
  • To discuss the development of novel antitumoral drugs targeting Ras and/or Rho pathways.

Main Methods:

  • Review of in vivo studies on Ras and Rho proteins in cancer.
  • Analysis of current drug development strategies targeting these signaling pathways.

Main Results:

  • Ras and Rho proteins are identified as critical modulators of mitogenic signaling.
  • These proteins are implicated in the carcinogenesis of various human tumors.
  • Emerging drugs show antitumoral activity by inhibiting Ras and/or Rho signaling.

Conclusions:

  • Dysregulation of cellular proliferation and death pathways underlies cancer.
  • Targeting Ras and Rho signaling pathways presents a promising strategy for cancer therapy.
  • Further research into these pathways can lead to more effective antitumoral agents.

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