Integrating the DNA damage and protein stress responses during cancer development and treatment
A model depicting how oncogene induced replication stress aids the progressive formation of certain hallmarks of cancer (early events: steps 1-5), while paving the way for, angiogenesis, evasion from immune surveillance, invasion and metastasis (late events-6). Specifically, oncogenic activation acts as a force that pushes the cell away from its equilibrium point. Activated oncogenes lead to replication stress either directly by deregulating the replication machinery or indirectly via affecting metabolic pathways (1, 2). DNA lesions resulting from oncogene activation stimulate the DNA damage response pathway to promote repair and impose the tumorigenic barriers of apoptosis and senescence. In the event of a perturbed DNA damage response, cells accumulate genomic instability, proteotoxic and mitotic stress (3, 4). Failure to elicit apoptosis or escape from senescence (5) can lead to oncogenic transformation and primary tumor formation. These early events can also pave the way for later events including angiogenesis, evasion from immune surveillance, invasion and metastasis. This is a link that requires further investigation (see text for details). Strike, hourglass: over time, genomic instability shapes the stages for cancer progression. ?: a potential link that requires further investigation [see text in: ref 1 for details and additional references].
1] Gorgoulis et al. Integrating the DNA damage and protein stress responses during cancer development and treatment. J Pathol 2018, 246(1): 12-40.