Studying the role of some extracellular signal regulated kinases (ERK) effectors in patients with breast cancer

Abstract

Cancer is considered the leading cause of death worldwide. Moreover, it is expected that the number of cancer – related deaths maybe doubled in the next 50 years. Breast cancer is by far the world’s most common cancer among women and the most likely cause of death worldwide. Approximately 10–15% of patients with BC have an aggressive disease and develop distant metastasis within 3 years after the initial detection of the primary tumor. Breast cancer incidence is age-specific. The rapid rate of increase before the menopause (ages 40–50) slows down after that, probably owing to diminishing levels of circulating estrogens. The incidence rates are high in both developed and developing countries; however the mortality rate is relatively much higher in less developed countries due to a lack of early detection, inadequate lifestyles and access to treatment facilities. The extracellular signal regulated kinase pathway covers several key signaling phosphorylation events that play a role in tumorigenesis. These activated kinases transmit extracellular signals that regulate cell growth, differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis and migration functions. The connector enhancer of kinase suppressor of Ras 1 (CNK1) is a multidomain scaffold protein, where it is necessary for Ras/Raf/ERK pathway activation. Current data suggests that CNK1 has multiple roles in cancer biology, with some studies representing that it interacts with tumor suppressors and others describing its role as oncogenic. Moreover, CNK1/ephrin B1 interaction might play a vital role as a mediator of