Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 17, 2026

Methods for Evaluating the Role of c-Fos and Dusp1 in Oncogene Dependence
10:09

Methods for Evaluating the Role of c-Fos and Dusp1 in Oncogene Dependence

Published on: January 7, 2019

8.9K

Oncogene addiction: pathways of therapeutic response, resistance, and road maps toward a cure

Raymond Pagliarini1, Wenlin Shao1, William R Sellers2

  • 1Department of Oncology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA.

EMBO Reports
|February 15, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Many cancers depend on single oncogenes for growth, a concept known as oncogene addiction. Understanding this addiction and resistance mechanisms can lead to curative cancer therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Genetics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Cancer therapeutics aim to target genetic drivers of tumor growth.
  • Oncogene addiction describes cancer's reliance on specific oncogenes.
  • Most cancers have multiple mutations, yet some respond to single-gene inhibition.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review clinical evidence supporting oncogene addiction.
  • To discuss mechanisms of response and resistance to targeted therapies.
  • To identify opportunities for developing curative cancer treatments.

Main Methods:

  • Review of preclinical and clinical data.
  • Analysis of mechanistic themes in targeted therapy.
  • Exploration of future therapeutic strategies.

Main Results:

  • Clinical data confirm the concept of oncogene addiction in various cancers.
  • Common mechanisms underlie both therapeutic response and acquired resistance.
  • Targeting oncogene addiction presents a promising avenue for cancer cure.

Conclusions:

  • Oncogene addiction is a validated therapeutic principle.
  • Understanding resistance is crucial for durable responses.
  • Exploiting oncogene addiction offers potential for curative cancer therapies.
Keywords:
feedbackoncogene addictiononcogenic shocktargeted therapy

More Related Videos

Looking for Driver Pathways of Acquired Resistance to Targeted Therapy: Drug Resistant Subclone Generation and Sensitivity Restoring by Gene Knock-down08:59

Looking for Driver Pathways of Acquired Resistance to Targeted Therapy: Drug Resistant Subclone Generation and Sensitivity Restoring by Gene Knock-down

Published on: December 11, 2017

7.7K
Implementation of In Vitro Drug Resistance Assays: Maximizing the Potential for Uncovering Clinically Relevant Resistance Mechanisms08:46

Implementation of In Vitro Drug Resistance Assays: Maximizing the Potential for Uncovering Clinically Relevant Resistance Mechanisms

Published on: December 9, 2015

11.3K

Related Concept Videos

Cancer02:18

Cancer

Cancers arise due to mutations in genes involved in the regulation of cell division, which leads to unrestricted cell proliferation. Modern science and medicine have made great strides in the understanding and treatment of cancer, including eradicating cancer in some patients. However, there is still no cure for cancer. This is largely due to the fact that cancer is a large group of many diseases.
56.3K
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine02:50

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
6.4K
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine02:50

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

1.9K
Treatment Resistant Cancers02:56

Treatment Resistant Cancers

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. A cancer cell is genetically unstable and hence can mutate faster. They can also modify their microenvironment and escape immune surveillance. The difficulties in treating cancer are further compounded by the emergence of rapid resistance to anticancer drugs. The most common ways to attain resistance in cancer cells include alteration in drug transport and metabolism, modification of drug target, elevated DNA damage response, or...
3.9K
Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes01:33

Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes

Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
12.2K
Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes01:33

Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes

6.6K