What is oncogenic
Pro Research Analysisby 
Searched over 200M research papers
Consensus Meter
Understanding Oncogenic Mechanisms and Their Implications
What is Oncogenic?
The term "oncogenic" refers to the ability to cause the formation of tumors. This property is typically associated with certain genes, viruses, and proteins that can induce uncontrolled cell growth, leading to cancer. Oncogenes are mutated or overexpressed versions of normal genes (proto-oncogenes) that drive the transformation of normal cells into cancerous cells.
Oncogenic Viruses and Their Impact
Oncoviruses are a group of viruses that can cause tumors in humans. Currently, seven viruses are recognized as oncogenic: Epstein Barr virus (EBV), Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), human papillomaviruses (HPVs), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human T-lymphotropic virus-1 (HTLV-1), and Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). These viruses can lead to a range of clinical outcomes, from asymptomatic infections to invasive cancers. Patients with inborn errors of immunity (IEI) are particularly susceptible to severe infections caused by these oncoviruses, highlighting the importance of understanding the genetic factors that predispose individuals to oncogenic viral infections.
Oncogene Addiction and Targeted Cancer Therapies
The concept of "oncogene addiction" describes the phenomenon where tumor cells become dependent on a single activated oncogene for their survival and proliferation. This dependency has significant implications for targeted cancer therapies. The "oncogenic shock" model suggests that upon inactivation of an oncoprotein, prosurvival signals dissipate quickly while proapoptotic signals persist, leading to cell death. This model helps explain the rapid clinical responses observed in some cancer patients treated with selective tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
Signal Transduction Pathways in Oncogenesis
Oncogenesis involves complex signal transduction pathways that regulate various physiological events. Oncogenes such as ras and src are known to cause unregulated cell growth through pathways like the Ras/Raf/MAPK pathway, which drives cellular proliferation. Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) also play a crucial role in oncogenesis by activating multiple signaling proteins, including the PI3-K pathway, which contributes to changes in gene transcription, cell motility, and apoptotic signaling. Understanding these pathways is essential for developing targeted therapies.
Oncogenic Pathway Signatures and Targeted Therapies
The development of an oncogenic state involves multiple independent mutations that deregulate cell signaling pathways. Gene expression signatures can reflect the activation status of several oncogenic pathways, helping to identify patterns of pathway deregulation in tumors. These signatures can guide the use of targeted therapeutics by predicting the sensitivity of cancer cell lines to specific therapeutic agents. This approach provides a valuable tool for personalizing cancer treatment and improving patient outcomes.
Immune Responses to Oncogenic Proteins
The human immune system can recognize and respond to oncogenic proteins, both mutated and nonmutated. Immune-based treatments targeting these proteins have shown therapeutic efficacy in animal models and are being translated into human clinical trials. This highlights the potential of immunotherapy as a strategy for targeting oncogenic proteins in cancer treatment.
The Role of RAS in Oncogenic Signaling
RAS is one of the first discovered oncogenes and plays a central role in cancer development. RAS signaling is not uniform but activates distinct downstream effectors in different cancer types. This signaling is tightly controlled and frequently distorted in cancer, supporting tumor growth, migration, survival, and metastasis. Despite the challenges in targeting RAS directly, new strategies are emerging that hold promise for therapeutic efficacy.
Conclusion
Oncogenic mechanisms are central to the development and progression of cancer. Understanding the roles of oncogenic viruses, signal transduction pathways, and immune responses to oncogenic proteins is crucial for developing effective targeted therapies. Advances in identifying oncogenic pathway signatures and new strategies for targeting key oncogenes like RAS and Myc offer hope for improved cancer treatments and patient outcomes.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic