title: Inhibition of Ras-mediated signaling pathways in CML stem cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a clonal myeloproliferative disorder characterized by the presence of the BCR-ABL1 oncoprotein in cells with a hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) origin. BCR-ABL1 tyrosine kinase activity leads to constitutive activation of Ras, which in turn acts as a branch point to initiate multiple downstream signaling pathways governing proliferation, self-renewal, differentiation and apoptosis. As aberrant regulation of these cellular processes causes transformation and disease progression particularly in advanced stages of CML, investigation of these signaling pathways may uncover new therapeutic targets for the selective eradication of CML stem cells. Transcription factors play a crucial role in unbalancing the Ras signaling network and have recently been investigated as potential modulators in this regard. In this review, we first briefly summarize the Ras-associated molecular pathways that are involved in the regulation of CML stem cell properties. Next we discuss the relevance of Ras-associated transcription factors as nuclear targets in combination treatment strategies for CML.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A closer investigation of the influence of Ras-mediated signaling pathways on CML progression to blast crisis is warranted to uncover new directions for targeted therapies, particularly in cases that are resistant to current tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
authors.affiliation: Signal transduction Unit, Department of Surgery, Medicine, Dentistry and Morphology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Jessika
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bertacchini
authors.affiliation: Health Research Institute, Research Center of Thalassemia and Hemoglobinopathy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Neda
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ketabchi
authors.affiliation: Signal transduction Unit, Department of Surgery, Medicine, Dentistry and Morphology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mediani
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine and LTTA Center, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Capitani
authors.affiliation: Signal transduction Unit, Department of Surgery, Medicine, Dentistry and Morphology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marmiroli
authors.affiliation: Health Research Institute, Research Center of Thalassemia and Hemoglobinopathy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. najmaldinsaki@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Najmaldin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Saki
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018631:ras Proteins
keywords: BCR-ABL1; Chronic myeloid leukemia; Ras; Transcription factor