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Targeting RAS and PI3K in lung cancer

Nature Medicine volume 14, pages 1315–1316 (2008)Cite this article

The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and RAS oncoproteins are activated in many major tumor types and control linked signaling pathways. An inhibitor of PI3K is now shown to shrink tumors in transgenic mouse cancer models. The drug also blocks RAS-induced lung tumors when combined with an inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (pages 1351–1356).

Small molecule inhibitors of PI3K have entered into early clinical trials in the past year or so2, but it will be some time before clear indications of efficacy against human cancer emerge. In the meantime, large bodies of preclinical data have been acquired with these agents, including data from xenografts of human tumors in immunodeficient mice. Some of these studies have been encouraging, but until now their effects have not been tested in animal models that could be considered to approximate to the human disease.

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Figure 1: The Ras and PI3K signaling pathways.

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  1. Julian Downward is at the Cancer Research UK London Research Institute, 44 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3PX, UK. downward@cancer.org.uk,

    Julian Downward

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Downward, J. Targeting RAS and PI3K in lung cancer. Nat Med 14, 1315–1316 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/nm1208-1315

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