Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 15, 2025

Identification of EGFR and RAS Inhibitors using Caenorhabditis elegans
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Integrative analysis of RAS signaling effectors reveals stage-dependent oncogenic patterns in colon adenocarcinoma

Loretta László1,2, Anna Lovrics1, Álmos Tilajka1,2

  • 1Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, 1117, Hungary.

Biotechnology Reports (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
|July 18, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Network Medicine reveals key genes like RAF1, PLCE1, RGL1, RIN1, and GRB7 driving early colon cancer. Targeting these RAS pathway disruptions offers potential for earlier, more effective cancer treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Systems Biology
  • Genomics

Background:

  • Cancer arises from complex cellular network disruptions, not single gene defects.
  • RAS signaling pathways are crucial mediators in cancer development.
  • Understanding early molecular drivers is key for effective intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate cancer-driving interactions using a Network Medicine approach.
  • To identify stage-specific molecular drivers in colon and lung cancers, focusing on RAS pathways.
  • To discover early-stage colon cancer biomarkers within the RAS signaling network.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of gene expression patterns in colon and lung cancer tissues.
  • Computational modeling integrated with patient tissue analysis.
  • Network analysis combined with gene expression studies to map RAS signaling disruptions.

Main Results:

  • Five key genes (RAF1, PLCE1, RGL1, RIN1, GRB7) were identified as specifically altered in early-stage colon cancer.
  • These identified genes function as RAS effectors.
  • The identified gene set effectively distinguishes between normal and cancerous colon tissues.

Conclusions:

  • Disruptions in RAS signaling contribute significantly to colon cancer development.
  • Targeting early-stage RAS-related genetic alterations presents potential therapeutic opportunities.
  • Early detection and intervention in RAS pathway changes could prevent cancer progression and complexity.
Keywords:
COADGRB7Interactome analysisPLCE1RAF1RAS effectorsRGL1RIN1

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