title: The role of signaling pathways in cervical cancer and molecular therapeutic targets.
abstract: Cervical cancer is a public health issue in developing countries. Although the Pap smear and colposcopy remain the major strategies for detection, most cases are diagnosed in the late stages. Therefore, a major concern has been to develop early diagnostic approaches and more effective treatments. Molecular pathways that participate in cervical malignant transformation have emerged as promising directed therapeutic targets. In this review, we explore some of the major pathways implicated in cervical cancer development, including RAF/MEK/ERK, phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K/AKT), Wnt/b-catenin, apoptosis and coupled membrane receptor signaling. We focus on the role of these pathways in cervical carcinogenesis, their alterations and the consequences of these abnormalities. In addition, the most recent preclinical and clinical data on the rationally designed target-based agents that are currently being tested against elements of these pathways are reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Cáncer, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología-Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City, México.
authors.forename: Joaquín
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Manzo-Merino
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Cáncer, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología-Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City, México.
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Contreras-Paredes
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Cáncer, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología-Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City, México.
authors.forename: Elenaé
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vázquez-Ulloa
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología Molecular y Biotecnología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City, México.
authors.forename: Leticia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rocha-Zavaleta
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Cáncer, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología-Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City, México.
authors.forename: Alma M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Fuentes-Gonzalez
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Cáncer, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología-Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City, México. Electronic address: lizanosoberon@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Marcela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lizano
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000473:pathology; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000502:physiology*; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D049488:Phosphatidylethanolamine Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D000081082:Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D049488:Phosphatidylethanolamine Binding Protein; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D000081082:Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D051176:beta Catenin; C511482:PEBP1 protein, human
keywords: Carcinogenesis; Cervical cancer; Inhibitors; Signaling pathways