Roles of the Raf/MEK/ERK and PI3K/PTEN/Akt/mTOR pathways in controlling growth and sensitivity to therapy-implications for cancer and aging

ECU Author/Contributor (non-ECU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)

William H. Chappell (Creator)

Marco Donia (Creator)

Paolo Fagone (Creator)

Massimo Libra (Creator)

Danijela Maksimovic-Ivanic (Creator)

Graziella Malaponte (Creator)

Alberto M. Martelli (Creator)

Maria C. Mazzarino (Creator)

Sanja Mijatovic (Creator)

Michele Milella (Creator)

Ferdinando Nicoletti (Creator)

Linda S. Steelman (Creator)

Franca Stivala (Creator)

Institution

East Carolina University (ECU )

Web Site: http://www.ecu.edu/lib/

Abstract: Dysregulated signaling through the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK and PI3K/PTEN/Akt/mTOR pathways is often the result of genetic alterations in critical components in these pathways or upstream activators. Unrestricted cellular proliferation and decreased sensitivity to apoptotic-inducing agents are typically associated with activation of these pro-survival pathways. This review discusses the functions these pathways have in normal and neoplastic tissue growth and how they contribute to resistance to apoptotic stimuli. Crosstalk and commonly identified mutations that occur within these pathways that contribute to abnormal activation and cancer growth will also be addressed. Finally the recently described roles of these pathways in cancer stem cells, cellular senescence and aging will be evaluated. Controlling the expression of these pathways could ameliorate human health.

Additional Information

Publication

Other

Aging (Albany NY); 3:3 p. 192-222

Language: English

Date: 2011

Keywords

Raf, kinases, PI3K, apoptosis, mTOR, cancer, protein phosphorylation, MEK, signal transduction

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