Biological Pathway Reviews

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is 1 of 4 transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor proteins in the epidermal growth factor receptor family.^1,2 Normally expressed on epithelial cellular membranes of organs such as breast and skin, HER2 exists in other tissues, includi

Homologous recombination repair (HHR) is a DNA repair mechanism that removes damaged DNA by acting on double-strand breaks, interstrand crosslinks, and other kinds of DNA damage.¹ DNA damage is repaired with high fidelity by correcting damage with information copied from a homologous undamaged molecule.² Defects in HRR are present in some cancers.³

The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is the essential system within the body to ensure elimination of misfolded proteins.¹ Proteins which are to be degraded are tagged with polyubiquitin chains, which are recognized by 19S.¹ This particle, 19S, along with the 20S proteasome core, form the 26S proteasome overall.¹ One protein the 20S proteasome targe

AKT (protein kinase B) is a serine threonine kinase that plays a pivotal role in regulating many cell processes, including survival, proliferation, invasion, apoptosis, and angiogenesis.¹ Disruptions in the AKT pathway are associated with cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular and neurological diseases.² In breast cancer, AKT is disrupted in up to 70% of cases, making it a valua

ALK is a tyrosine kinase receptor that resides on chromosome 2p23. Chromosomal rearrangements resulting in fusion genes leads to ALK tyrosine kinase that promote cell survival by activating a signaling pathway or by inhibition of apoptosis, which leads to cell proliferation.¹

PIK3CA (phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase catalytic subunit) is an oncogene that encodes one piece (a subunit) of an enzyme called phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-Kinase).¹ PIK3CA plays a role in the control of cell growth, cell survival, and cell migration.

Tumor cells have many characteristics, including genomic instability and oncogene activation, which should lead to apoptosis.¹ In a bid to survive, tumor cells may become dependent on the BCL-2 protein.² Certain cancer cells will overexpress BCL-2, which in turn impedes apoptosis and facilitates tumor growth and resistance to chemotherapy.³ These mal

BCMA is a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor family that is expressed on plasma cells and on late stage normal and malignant B-cells.¹ BCMA binds to BAFF, activating the NF-kB and MAPK8/JNK signaling pathways, which leads to the prolif

Oncogenic mutations in BRAF genes activate the RAF/MEK/ERK pathway, resulting in increased cell proliferation and resistance to apoptosis.¹ BRAF mutations have been identified in 7% to 8% of all cancers.² V600E is the most common activating mutations in BRAF and is associated with more