Cell signaling is a closed and complex process that regulates various cellular functions, such as growth, survival, and migration.
A closer look at K-Ras reveals that mutations to these proteins can cause skin cells to grow without regulation because they can bypass specific signaling mechanisms.
Malignant cells tend to have deregulated signaling networks, such as PI3K-Akt and Ras-ERK pathways, that make the cancer cells more aggressive.
Interestingly, chronic inflammation can activate pathways such as NF-kappa B, which play a critical role in carcinogenesis and metastasis.
This understanding of aberrant signaling further opens avenues to designing therapies that specifically target cancer cells without damaging normal cells.