Researcher Goes Against the Grain: Brings New Hope for Patients with BRAF Fusions
Read time: 4 minutes. BRAF is an important signaling protein that regulates how normal cells grow and multiply through the MAPK (mitogen activated protein kinase) signaling pathway. However, changes in the BRAF gene can cause the cells to grow unchecked and develop into a tumor. This can lead to many types of cancer, including melanoma, colorectal, thyroid, and lung cancers. Researchers estimate that 4%-15% of tumors, from all types of cancer, are driven by changes in the BRAF gene. In lung cancer, approximately 1%-2% of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) have changes in the BRAF gene. These