Which Signaling Pathways are Commonly Altered in Cancer?
Several key signaling pathways are frequently altered in cancer:
- The PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway is often upregulated, promoting cell survival and growth. - The RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK pathway is another critical pathway that, when mutated, drives cell proliferation. - The Wnt signaling pathway is involved in cell fate determination and stem cell maintenance and is often dysregulated in cancer. - Notch signaling plays a role in cell differentiation and can contribute to tumor progression when altered. - The Hedgehog pathway is essential for tissue patterning during development and can promote oncogenesis when aberrantly activated.
