G C A T T A C G G C A T genes Review Hidden Targets in RAF Signalling Pathways to Block Oncogenic RAS Signalling Aoife A. Nolan 1, Nourhan K. Aboud 1, Walter Kolch 1,2,* and David Matallanas 1,* 1 Systems Biology Ireland, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland;
[email protected] (A.A.N.);
[email protected] (N.K.A.) 2 Conway Institute of Biomolecular & Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland * Correspondence:
[email protected] (W.K.);
[email protected] (D.M.) Abstract: Oncogenic RAS (Rat sarcoma) mutations drive more than half of human cancers, and RAS inhibition is the holy grail of oncology. Thirty years of relentless efforts and harsh disappointments have taught us about the intricacies of oncogenic RAS signalling that allow us to now get a pharma- cological grip on this elusive protein. The inhibition of effector pathways, such as the RAF-MEK-ERK pathway, has largely proven disappointing. Thus far, most of these efforts were aimed at blocking the activation of ERK. Here, we discuss RAF-dependent pathways that are regulated through RAF functions independent of catalytic activity and their potential role as targets to block oncogenic RAS signalling. We focus on the now well documented roles of RAF kinase-independent functions in apoptosis, cell cycle progression and cell migration. Keywords: RAF kinase-independent; RAS; MST2; ASK; PLK; RHO-α; apoptosis; cell cycle; cancer therapy Citation: Nolan, A.A.; Aboud, N.K.; Kolch, W.; Matallanas, D. Hidden Targets in RAF Signalling Pathways to Block Oncogenic RAS Signalling.