Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 24, 2026

RhoC GTPase Activation Assay
09:58

RhoC GTPase Activation Assay

Published on: August 22, 2010

13.1K

The Rac GTPase in Cancer: From Old Concepts to New Paradigms

Marcelo G Kazanietz1, Maria J Caloca2

  • 1Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. marcelog@upenn.edu mj.caloca@csic.es.

Cancer Research
|August 16, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Dysregulated Rac1 signaling drives cancer progression and metastasis. Targeting Rac1 hyperactivation offers a promising strategy for overcoming cancer treatment resistance and enhancing antitumor immunity.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Rho family GTPases, especially Rac1, are crucial for cell functions and cancer development.
  • Aberrant Rac1 activity is a key feature of cancer, promoting tumor growth and metastasis.
  • Understanding Rac1's role is vital for cancer research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review mechanisms of Rac1 hyperactivation in cancer.
  • To explore the dual role of Rac GTPase-activating proteins in cancer.
  • To highlight Rac1's contribution to therapy resistance and immune suppression.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of Rac1 signaling in cancer.
  • Analysis of genetic and regulatory mechanisms of Rac1.
  • Examination of Rac1's impact on therapeutic outcomes and immunity.

Main Results:

  • Rac1 hyperactivation arises from mutations, altered degradation, and mislocalization.
  • GTPase-activating proteins can promote oncogenesis, challenging prior assumptions.
  • Rac1 contributes to resistance against anticancer drugs and suppresses antitumor immunity.

Conclusions:

  • Rac1 hyperactivation is a significant driver of cancer malignancy.
  • Targeting Rac1 pathways is a necessary clinical strategy.
  • Further research into Rac1 regulation and function is warranted for therapeutic development.

More Related Videos

Detection of Small GTPase Prenylation and GTP Binding Using Membrane Fractionation and GTPase-linked Immunosorbent Assay13:51

Detection of Small GTPase Prenylation and GTP Binding Using Membrane Fractionation and GTPase-linked Immunosorbent Assay

Published on: November 11, 2018

10.4K
Characterization of Cell Membrane Extensions and Studying Their Roles in Cancer Cell Adhesion Dynamics08:11

Characterization of Cell Membrane Extensions and Studying Their Roles in Cancer Cell Adhesion Dynamics

Published on: March 26, 2018

8.8K

Related Concept Videos

Small GTPases - Ras and Rho01:24

Small GTPases - Ras and Rho

Ras and Rho are small monomeric GTPases that act downstream of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) and regulate various cellular processes. These GTPases switch between active and inactive states by binding to guanine nucleotides.
Three regulatory proteins control their activity:
5.5K
The Ras Gene02:38

The Ras Gene

The Ras-gene-encoded proteins are regulators of signaling pathways controlling cell proliferation, differentiation, or cell survival. The Ras-gene family in humans constitutes three primary members—the HRas, NRas, and KRas. These genes code for four functionally distinct yet closely related proteins—the HRas, NRas, KRas4A, and KRas4B. The involvement of mutant Ras genes in human cancer was first discovered in 1982 and is among the most common causes of human tumorigenesis.
Ras is a...
7.4K
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...
11.6K
GTPases and their Regulation02:14

GTPases and their Regulation

Guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G-proteins), also known as GTPases, are a superfamily of proteins that regulate many cellular processes, such as cell signaling, vesicular transport, and the regulation of cell shape and motility. Mutation or dysfunction of these proteins can lead to disease. There are around 40,000 known G-proteins that can broadly be classified into two groups ‒  small G-proteins consisting of a single domain and large multi-domain G-proteins.
Large G-proteins,...
10.1K
GTPases and their Regulation02:14

GTPases and their Regulation

3.1K
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
4.9K