KRAS oncogenic signaling extends beyond cancer cells to orchestrate the microenvironment

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KRAS oncogenic signaling extends beyond cancer cells to orchestrate the microenvironment

Wednesday, 07.02.2018

This review covers the findings related to alterations in the tumor microenvironment induced by KRAS activation in cancer cells, bringing to attention new mechanisms of KRAS-induced tumor progression which may have a great impact on the design of new therapies that target cancer cells by abrogating their interaction with the tumor microenvironment.

 

Authors and Affiliations:

Patrícia Dias Carvalho 1,2, Carlos F. Guimarães 1,2, Ana P. Cardoso 1,3, Susana Mendonca 1,2, Ângela M Costa 1,3, Maria J. Oliveira 1,3,4, and Sérgia Velho 1,2

1 i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.

2 IPATIMUP - Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.

3 INEB – Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.

4 Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.

 

Abstract:

KRAS is one of the most frequently mutated oncogenes in cancer, being a potent initiator of tumorigenesis, a strong inductor of malignancy, and a predictive biomarker of response to therapy. Despite the large investment to understand the effects of KRAS activation in cancer cells, pharmacologic targeting of KRAS or its downstream effectors has not yet been successful at the clinical level. Recent studies are now describing new mechanisms of KRAS-induced tumorigenesis by analyzing its effects on the components of the tumor microenvironment. These studies revealed that the activation of KRAS on cancer cells extends to the surrounding microenvironment, affecting the properties and functions of its constituents. Herein, we discuss the most emergent perspectives on the relationship between KRAS-mutant cancer cells and their microenvironment components. 

 

Journal: Cancer Research

 

Link: http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/78/1/7.long