title: [Roles of targeting Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathways in the treatment of esophageal carcinoma].
abstract: Ras is best known for its ability to regulate cell growth, proliferation and differentiation. Mutations in Ras are associated with the abnormal cell proliferation which can result in incidence of all human cancers. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) is a downstream effector of Ras and plays important roles in prognosis of tumors. Recently, evidence has gradually accumulated to demonstrate that there are other effectors between Ras and ERK, these proteins interact each other and constitute the thorough Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway. The pathway has profound effects on incidence of esophageal carcinoma and clinical applications of some chemotherapeutic drugs targeting the pathway. Further understanding of the relevant molecular mechanisms of Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway can be helpful for the development of efficient targeting therapeutic approaches which contribute to the treatment of esophageal cancer. In this article, roles of Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway in esophageal carcinoma as well as pharmacological targeting point in the pathway are reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University Nanchang 330006, China. cyscys2005@126.com
authors.forename: Yu-Sui
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Ji-Chun
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hua-Qun
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Ben-Tong
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Shu-Bing
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Qi-Cai
authors.initials: QC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D000077277:Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D019908:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D019908:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases; D018631:ras Proteins