Kinases in Cancer and Other Diseases

Dear Colleagues,

Protein kinases comprise a large family of enzymes that catalyze protein phosphorylation. The human genome contains 518 protein kinase genes. Phosphorylation is one of the major mechanisms for regulating various cellular processes, such as proliferation, the apoptosis cell cycle, growth, apoptosis, differentiation, etc. The deregulation of kinase activity can result in significant changes in these processes. Furthermore, deregulated kinases are often oncogenic and essential for the survival and spreading of cancer cells . There are different ways in which kinases are involved in cancers, including misregulated expression and/or amplification, mutation, chromosomal translocation, abnormal phosphorylation, and epigenetic regulation. In order to further investigage these functions, there are various scientific projects assessing the importance of kinases in cancers as well as several other diseases, such as polycystic kidney disease, glomerulonephritis, neurodegeneration, retinal degeneration, lung inflammation, etc. In clinical science the major two kinase investigation routes are 1.) using kinases as biomarkers in cancer prognostics and diagnostics and 2.) treating cancers with kinase inhibitors and/or monoclonal antibodies. This Topic will highlight current and innovatine research achievements in these areas.

Dr. Jonas Cicenas
Dr. May C. Morris
Topic Editors