: A Model Organism to Study Cancer

Overview

Journal Front Genet

Date 2019 Mar 19

PMID 30881374

Citations 92

Authors

Zhasmine Mirzoyan

Manuela Sollazzo

Mariateresa Allocca

Alice Maria Valenza

Daniela Grifoni

Paola Bellosta

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Cancer is a multistep disease driven by the activation of specific oncogenic pathways concomitantly with the loss of function of tumor suppressor genes that act as sentinels to control physiological growth. The conservation of most of these signaling pathways in , and the ability to easily manipulate them genetically, has made the fruit fly a useful model organism to study cancer biology. In this review we outline the basic mechanisms and signaling pathways conserved between humans and flies responsible of inducing uncontrolled growth and cancer development. Second, we describe classic and novel models used to study different cancers, with the objective to discuss their strengths and limitations on their use to identify signals driving growth cell autonomously and within organs, drug discovery and for therapeutic approaches.

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