Signal transduction events in mammalian cells in response to ionizing radiation.
Ionizing radiations elicit a variety of biological effects in mammalian cells. In recent years altered signal transduction has been recognized as a key cellular response to ionizing radiation. Several oncogenes, the products of which are components of signal transduction pathways and which are over-expressed in many tumors, are specifically induced in cells exposed to radiation. It has also become evident that the oncogene ras and the serine/threonine protein kinase oncogenes raf and PKC confer radio-resistance to tumor cells. Modulation of these genes or their activity by natural compounds may offer a strategy to treat cancer by enhancing radiation-induced apoptosis of tumor cells.
Bhattacharya
R K
RK
Department of Environmental Carcinogenesis and Toxicology, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata, India. cncinst@giasc101.vsnl.net.in
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D006801:Humans; D008322:Mammals; D009857:Oncogenes; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes; D011836:Radiation Tolerance; D011839:Radiation, Ionizing; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects*