Tailoring to RB: tumour suppressor status and therapeutic response

Nat Rev Cancer. 2008 Sep;8(9):714-24. doi: 10.1038/nrc2401.

Abstract

The retinoblastoma tumour suppressor (RB) is a crucial regulator of cell-cycle progression that is invoked in response to a myriad of anti-mitogenic signals. It has been hypothesized that perturbations of the RB pathway confer a synonymous proliferative advantage to tumour cells; however, recent findings demonstrate context-specific outcomes associated with such lesions. Particularly, loss of RB function is associated with differential response to wide-ranging therapeutic agents. Thus, the status of this tumour suppressor may be particularly informative in directing treatment regimens.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Biomarkers / analysis
  • Cell Cycle
  • Cell Death
  • E2F Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Genes, Tumor Suppressor
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Neoplasms / therapy
  • Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / genetics
  • Organ Specificity
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Retinoblastoma Protein / deficiency
  • Retinoblastoma Protein / physiology*
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Biomarkers
  • E2F Transcription Factors
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Retinoblastoma Protein