RAS isoforms and mutations in cancer at a glance

RAS proteins (KRAS4A, KRAS4B, NRAS and HRAS) function as GDP-GTP-regulated binary on-off switches, which regulate cytoplasmic signaling networks that control diverse normal cellular processes. Gain-of-function missense mutations in RAS genes are found in ∼25% of human cancers, prompting interest in identifying anti-RAS therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment. However, despite more than three decades of intense effort, no anti-RAS therapies have reached clinical application. Contributing to this failure has been an underestimation of the complexities of RAS. First, there is now appreciation that the four human RAS proteins are not functionally identical. Second, with >130 different missense mutations found…

• UD
  U.S. Department of Defense

  Award: CA140731
• PC
  Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
• LF
  Lustgarten Foundation
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: NCI 5-T32CA009156, F32 CA200313, CA175747, CA042978, CA199235, CA179193