Table 5 Information of the RASSF genes studied in relation to tumorigenesis

RASSF1A

3p21

Ras association domain family member 1

NB tumors and cell lines [4] as well as various human cancers, reviewed in [6]

TSG involved in regulation of cell proliferation. Promotes apoptosis and cell cycle arrest, involved in migration and maintenance of genomic stability (reviewed in [6]). KO of RASSF1A in mice enhances spontaneous tumor formation [18]; [19]

RASSF2

20p13

Ras association domain family member 2

Colorectal cancer [13], gastric cancer [20], nasopharyngeal carcinoma [21], breast-, lung and NSCLC tumors [22], thyroid cancer [23], pancreatic cancer [24]

Function as a TSG, reduces colony formation, promotes apoptosis and cell cycle arrest [25]; [15]; [21]; [22]; [23]

RASSF4

10q11

Ras association domain family member 4

Kidney-, breast- and lung cancer cell lines, breast- and lung primary tumors [14]

Have growth inhibitory properties and promotes apoptosis in lung- and breast tumor cell lines [14]

RASSF5

1q32

Ras association domain family member 5

NB cell lines [26]; [27], lung-, breast-, colorectal-, and kidney tumor cell lines and in primary NSCLC tumors [28], Wilms tumor [29], CCRCC [30], gastric cancer [20], colon cancer [13], squamous cell cancer of head and neck [31], hepatocellular carcinoma [32]

Also called NORE1 and forms heterodimers with RASSF1A [33]. Associate with microtubules and act growth inhibitory by a process involving p53. Promotes apoptosis when overexpressed or in the presence of activated Ras [34]. Neuroblastoma tumors, especially non MYCN-amplified, show suppressed NORE1A expression [27]

RASSF6

4q13

Ras association domain family member 6

Childhood leukemia [10]

Putative TSG in childhood leukemia [10]. Promotes apoptosis [35]. Downregulated at both mRNA and protein level in gastric cancer. Gastric cancer patients with RASSF6-negative tumors had worse outcome and higher recurrence rate than patients with RASSF6-positive tumors [36]

RASSF7

11p15

Ras association domain family (N-terminal) member 7

Centrosome associated protein necessary for spindle formation and completion of mitosis in the neural tube in Xenopus [8]. Required for completion of mitosis in human cells and KO results in mitotic arrest [37]

RASSF8

12p12

Ras association domain family (N-terminal) member 8

Childhood leukemia cell lines [10]

TSG candidate in lung cancer [38]. KO enhances anchorage independent growth in soft agar and promotes tumor formation in mice [39]

RASSF10

11p15

Ras association domain family (N-terminal) member 10

Childhood leukemia [10], thyroid cancer [40], primary glioblastomas and astrocytomas [41], malign melanoma [42]

Suggested as a regulator of mitosis. Over-expression decrease colony formation in soft agar [41]