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Updated: May 16, 2026

Next Generation Sequencing for the Detection of Actionable Mutations in Solid and Liquid Tumors
Published on: September 20, 2016
RagD gene expression and NRF2 mutations in lung squamous cell carcinomas.
Hidefumi Sasaki1, Masayuki Shitara, Keisuke Yokota
1Department of Oncology, Immunology and Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Aichi 467-8601, Japan.
RagD, an activator of the mTOR pathway, is linked to lung cancer cell proliferation. Higher RagD expression correlates with NRF2 mutations and advanced tumor stages in lung squamous cell carcinoma.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- RagD is a small G protein and an activator of the mTOR pathway.
- RagD influences the proliferation of cancer cells with mutations in the NRF2 gene (NFE2L2).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between RagD expression and NRF2 mutation status in lung cancers.
- To determine if RagD expression levels are associated with clinicopathological features of lung squamous cell carcinoma.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to analyze RagD mRNA levels.
- RagD mRNA levels were normalized to β-actin mRNA levels in 90 lung squamous cell carcinoma samples.
- Analysis included stratification by NRF2 mutation status and clinicopathological parameters (age, Brinkman index, gender, tumor stage).
Main Results:
- RagD mRNA levels did not significantly differ based on age, Brinkman index, or gender.
- Significantly higher RagD mRNA levels were observed in stage III compared to stage I lung squamous cell carcinoma (P=0.0039).
- A trend towards higher RagD mRNA levels was noted in NRF2 mutant samples compared to wild-type samples (P=0.074).
Conclusions:
- RagD expression is associated with advanced tumor stage in lung squamous cell carcinoma.
- RagD induction, potentially by NRF2 activation, may contribute to the proliferation of lung squamous cell cancers.
- These findings suggest RagD as a potential therapeutic target in NRF2-mutated lung cancers.
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