Insulin activates the insulin receptor to downregulate the PTEN tumour suppressor.

Insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 signaling have fundamental roles in energy metabolism, growth and development. Recent research suggests hyperactive insulin receptor (IR) and hyperinsulinemia are cancer risk factors. However, the mechanisms that account for the link between the hyperactive insulin signaling and cancer risk are not well understood.

Tumour suppressor genes in chemotherapeutic drug response.

Since cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, there is an urgent need to find better treatments. Currently, the use of chemotherapeutics remains the predominant option for cancer therapy. However, one of the major obstacles for successful cancer therapy using these chemotherapeutics is that patients often do not respond or eventually develop resistance after initial treatment.

Human homolog of Drosophila expanded, hEx, functions as a putative tumor suppressor in human cancer cell lines independently of the Hippo pathway.

The Hippo signaling network is proving to be an essential regulator within the cell, participating in multiple cellular phenotypes including cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell migration and organ size control. Much of this pathway is conserved from flies to mammals; however, how the upstream components, namely Expanded, affect downstream processes in mammalian systems has remained elusive. Only recently has human Expanded (hEx), also known as FRMD6 or Willin, been identified.