Drosophila and oncogenesis

Cancer is one of the most prevalent diseases in modern society, and activating mutations in Ras proteins are among the first somatic genetic changes associated with the formation of tumours. These mutations cause continuous signalling that leads to activation of multiple effectors that are critical for tumour formation, progression and metastasis. We want to address the contribution of Ras in the biology of tumour progression and metastasis using the genetic model organism Drosophila melanogaster