Molecular Mechanism of Cell Signaling Pathways of Cancer Cells in Forward and Reverse Mutation: A Perspective Review

Abstract

One of the most dreaded diseases is cancer whose biological process has long been the focus of scientific inquiry. Changes to normal cellular pathways that result in uncontrolled cell growth and proliferation are widely accepted as the primary cause of cancer. It is known as cancer cells' forward mutation, unchecked proliferation and few pathways contribute to cancer development. Including PI3K-Akt pathway EGFR, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, Notch, NF-κB, Ras/MAPK and Wnt/β-catenin are essential for cancer development. Certain cancer forms' genesis and progression are attributed to several cell signaling pathways including the Ras/MAPK and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways. In breast, prostate, colorectal, lung and ovarian cancers, the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway is often activated, promoting cell survival, proliferation and metastasis. Lung, colorectal, thyroid, and pancreatic cancers often exhibit activation of the Ras/MAPK pathway, which controls cell proliferation, differentiation and survival. It is extremely uncommon but under some circumstances, cancer cells can undergo reverse mutation which returns the mutant gene to its normal phase. It has been observed that despite notable advancements in the field of cancer biology, the intricate relationship between forward and reverse mutations in the formation of cancer is still poorly understood with no prior study having thoroughly investigated their combined processes. This article aimed to provide an investigation of the primary biological processes behind both reverse and forward mutation upon examining the molecular mechanisms underlying both forward and reverse mutation.