PAK signalling during the development and progression of cancer.

Radu, Maria; Semenova, Galina; Kosoff, Rachelle; Chernoff, Jonathan · Nat Rev Cancer · 2014

review · Level V

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Abstract

p21-Activated kinases (PAKs) are positioned at the nexus of several oncogenic signalling pathways. Overexpression or mutational activation of PAK isoforms frequently occurs in various human tumours, and recent data suggest that excessive PAK activity drives many of the cellular processes that are the hallmarks of cancer. In this Review, we discuss the mechanisms of PAK activation in cancer, the key substrates that mediate the developmental and oncogenic effects of this family of kinases, and how small-molecule inhibitors of these enzymes might be best developed and deployed for the treatment of cancer.

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