Synthetic Lethal Vulnerabilities in -Mutant Cancers.

Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med
Authors
Keywords
Abstract

KRAS is the most commonly mutated oncogene in human cancer. Most -mutant cancers depend on sustained expression and signaling of KRAS, thus making it a high-priority therapeutic target. Unfortunately, development of direct small molecule inhibitors of KRAS function has been challenging. An alternative therapeutic strategy for -mutant malignancies involves targeting codependent vulnerabilities or synthetic lethal partners that are preferentially essential in the setting of oncogenic KRAS. KRAS activates numerous effector pathways that mediate proliferation and survival signals. Moreover, cancer cells must cope with substantial oncogenic stress conferred by mutant KRAS. These oncogenic signaling pathways and compensatory coping mechanisms of -mutant cancer cells form the basis for synthetic lethal interactions. Here, we review the compendium of previously identified codependencies in -mutant cancers, including the results of numerous functional genetic screens aimed at identifying KRAS synthetic lethal targets. Importantly, many of these vulnerabilities may represent tractable therapeutic opportunities.

Year of Publication
2018
Journal
Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med
Volume
8
Issue
8
Date Published
2018 08 01
ISSN
2157-1422
DOI
10.1101/cshperspect.a031518
PubMed ID
29101114
PubMed Central ID
PMC5990478
Links
Grant list
U01 CA199253 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
R01 CA130988 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
P01 CA154303 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
U01 CA176058 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
UL1 TR001102 / TR / NCATS NIH HHS / United States
P50 CA127003 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States