title: K-ras role in lung cancer therapy.
abstract: The ras gene family provides a global effect on gene expression by encoding small GTP-binding proteins which act as molecular switches connecting extracellular signals with nuclear transcription factors. Mutations on the K-ras gene have been found in 20-30% of non-small-cell lung cancers are believed to play a key role in this malignancy. The ras-signaling pathway has attracted considerable attention as a target for anticancer therapy because of its important role in carcinogenesis. This review summarizes the structure and function of K-ras, with attention to the facets of K-ras biology that relate to tumorigenesis and focuses on those that have been targeted for lung cancer therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D011905:Genes, ras / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics*; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018631:ras Proteins