1) Given the large and heterogenous collection of signaling molecules that play
ID: 209029 • Letter: 1
Question
1) Given the large and heterogenous collection of signaling molecules that play key roles in the pathogenesis of various cancers, which classes of molecules do you think might become the targets for development of a range of new anti- cancer therapeutics (besides the much-studied kinases)? 2) How might tumors that were initiated by the formation of a certain oncogene (from a proto-oncogene) become independent cf this oncogenes later in tumor progression? 3) Consider the idea of cancer stem cells. What obstacles might stand in the way of developing drugs against these cells (that may represent only a small fraction of the total cancer cells)?Explanation / Answer
Tie2 and eIF3 might be the good targets for the development of anti-cancer therapeutics, because the dysregulation of the cancer gene expression governed by a ribosomal protein eIF3 could lead to the increased cell growth and carcinogenesis. Also, the Tie2 are involved in regulating the adhesion and the invasion of cancer cells. A series of mutations in the proto-oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes makes the normal cells to become cancerous cells. However, the activation of anaerobic glycolysis (the Warburg effect), which is not necessarily induced by the mutations in proto-oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, provides the building blocks required for the duplication of the cellular components of a dividing cell. This makes the tumors become independent of the oncogenes later in tumor progression. Cancer stem cells can develop resistance mechanisms against the chemotherapeutic drugs and this may caused the recurrence of cancer in an animal or human subject. This is the main obstacle developing drugs against these cells.
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