Retinoblastoma Pathway (RB Pathway)

The Retinoblastoma (RB) pathway is a critical regulator of the cell cycle, particularly at the G1/S checkpoint. It involves the retinoblastoma protein (pRb), cyclins, cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), and E2F transcription factors. In normal cells, pRb inhibits cell cycle progression until appropriate signals are received. Disruption of the RB pathway, through mutations or deletions in RB1 or other pathway components, leads to uncontrolled cellular proliferation and is a common event in many human cancers. This pathway is therefore a therapeutic target in several cancer types.

Other names

RB1 PathwaypRb PathwayG1/S Checkpoint Pathway

Targeting parallel survival pathways that become essential when RB is lost; Using drugs that induce death specifically in dividing cells lacking functional Rb; Considering combination therapies based on specific vulnerabilities conferred by loss-of-RB function