Oncogenic stress response mechanisms as new therapeutic targets in cancer treatment: A review
Juan Iovanna, Matías Estarás, Daniel Grasso, Martin E. Fernández Zapico, José L. Neira, Patricia Santofimia‐Castaño
Abstract
Activation of oncogenes, such as through mutations in Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS), triggers profound disruptions in cellular homeostasis that set off a cascade of stress responses. These responses enable cells to cope with the array of challenges encountered during tumorigenesis by activating defense mechanisms that promote adaptation and survival. Key components of this oncogenic stress response include heat shock proteins, the ubiquitin-proteasome system, autophagy, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2-antioxidant response element signaling, DNA damage response proteins, p53, redox-regulating proteins, and stress granules. This review concentrates on KRAS-driven oncogenic transformation, as KRAS mutations are among the most common in human cancers, accounting for over 90% of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cases, around 30% of lung cancers, and approximately 50% of colorectal cancers. We examine the intricate molecular interplay between oncogenic stress and the associated cellular defense mechanisms, emphasizing the key molecular events that follow KRAS activation. Importantly, the very pathways that allow cancer cells to adapt to oncogenic stress also offer novel therapeutic opportunities. By selectively targeting pivotal regulators within these stress response pathways, we can potentially disrupt the survival mechanisms of cancer cells. This strategy not only promises to enhance the effectiveness of existing treatments but also paves the way for the development of innovative therapies designed to combat tumor progression. In essence, exploiting oncogenic stress responses represents an original and promising therapeutic approach in the fight against cancer.