Journal des bioprocédés et des biotechniques

Targeting Changes in the RAF-MEK Pathway

Abstract

Peter Koulen

One of the most frequently mutated oncogenic pathways in cancer is the MAPK pathway. Although RAS mutations are the most common MAPK changes, changes in downstream components of the pathway, such as the RAF and MEK genes, offer promising therapeutic opportunities. Other alterations in the RAF and MEK genes may provide rarer, but tractable, targets in addition to BRAFV600 mutations, for which several approved therapeutic regimens, exist. Recent studies, however, have demonstrated the complexity of MAPK signalling and highlighted the fact that different alterations in these genes may have strikingly different properties. Understanding the distinct functional properties of specific RAF and MEK alterations, as discussed here, will be critical for developing effective therapeutic approaches for these targets.