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Suppression of ras-transformants (review)
1Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
Abstract:
Transforming ras genes are the oncogenes most frequently identified in human cancers. This justifies the intense interest in finding ways to suppress oncogenicity in these gene family-mediated transformants. The methods of suppression can be classified as 1) genetical, 2) biological and 3) pharmacological. Most of the reagents used for the suppression inhibit rodent transformants induced by transfected viral or activated cellular ras oncogenes, but some of the reagents are also effective when applied to natural human transformants that contain activated ras oncogenes. The growth and tumorigenicity of the ras-transformants are suppressed by the inhibition of the integration, transcription, translation or post-translational modification of the ras genes and p21 ras proteins, as well as the inhibition of the expression of genes which collaborate in the ras-transformation or the enhancement of some tumor suppressor genes. These observations offer novel approaches to the investigation of malignant transformation by ras-oncogenes, and have potential application in treatment of ras-oncogene-induced tumors.
Insights
Researchers explored methods to suppress oncogenicity of ras genes, common in human cancers. Suppressing ras gene activity, its protein, or collaborating genes offers potential cancer treatment strategies.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Ras genes are frequently identified oncogenes in human cancers.
- Suppressing ras oncogenicity is a key area of cancer research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and classify methods for suppressing ras oncogenicity.
- To explore the potential of these suppression methods in treating ras-oncogene-induced tumors.
Main Methods:
- Classification of suppression methods into genetical, biological, and pharmacological approaches.
- Review of reagents that inhibit ras gene/protein expression or function.
- Examination of strategies targeting collaborating genes or enhancing tumor suppressor genes.
Main Results:
- Suppression methods target ras gene integration, transcription, translation, and post-translational modification.
- Some reagents are effective against both experimental and natural human ras-transformed cells.
- Inhibition of collaborating genes or enhancement of tumor suppressor genes also suppresses ras-transformation.
Conclusions:
- Ras oncogene suppression offers novel approaches to studying malignant transformation.
- These strategies hold potential for the treatment of human cancers driven by ras oncogenes.