Identification of genes associated with gall bladder cell carcinogenesis: Implications in targeted therapy of gall bladder cancer

Figure 1 Current scenario of gall bladder cancer treatment strategies. T1a, T1b, T2, T3, and T4 stand for the different T stages of gall bladder cancer. Usually, the T1a, T1b, and T2 tumors could be removed by surgery but this should be confirmed only after a CT scan. T3 and T4 tumors usually cannot be removed by surgery and other approaches are taken to treat them. GBC: Gall bladder cancer.

Figure 2 Mechanism of MAP kinase activation by some of the target genes. ERBB members: EGFR/ Her2/ErbB3/ErbB4; GRB: A serine protease and shortened form of Granzyme B; EZRIN: A protein needed for activation of RAS; SOS: Guanosine nucleotide exchange factor helps in the activation of RAS, the name derived from Son of Sevenless gene; RAS: A G protein, the name is derived from rat sarcoma virus; RAF: Serine threonine protein kinases and shortened form of rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma; MAP kinase: Protein kinases and shortened form of mitogen-activated protein kinase; EGFR, HER2/neu, and CD44 are receptors embedded in the phospholipid bilayer and A-RAF protein is present in the cytoplasm; EGFR, HER2/neu, CD44, and ARAF activate the protein kinase, MAPK which ultimately results in the survival of tumor cells; HA: Hyaluronic acid; EGF: Epidermal growth factor; EGFR: Epidermal growth factor receptors.