A New View of Activating Mutations in Cancer.

ABSTRACT: A vast effort has been invested in the identification of driver mutations of cancer. However, recent studies and observations call into question whether the activating mutations or the signal strength are the major determinant of tumor development. The data argue that signal strength determines cell fate, not the mutation that initiated it. In addition to activating mutations, factors that can impact signaling strength include (i) homeostatic mechanisms that can block or enhance the signal, (ii) the types and locations of additional mutations, and (iii) the expression levels of specific isoforms of genes and regulators of proteins in the pathway. Because signal levels are largely decided by chromatin structure, they vary across cell types, states, and time windows. A strong activating muta

SUBMITTER: Nussinov R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9664134 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature