Abstract:

Cell division cycle 42 (Cdc42) is one of ubiquitously expressed guanosine triphosphate enzymes (GTPases), which are also known as Rho GTPases due to their GTPase activity. Cdc42 can regulate morphologic changes of the cytoskeleton and membrane transport function involving in physiological processes such as growth, proliferation, motility, and polarity of cells. Cdc42 is highly expressed in a variety of malignancies and is closely associated with tumor progression, invasion, and metastasis, which suggest Cdc42 may be a potential target for the treatment of tumors. This paper reviews Cdc42 with respect to its structure, functions, up-stream and down-stream effectors, as well as its role in tumor invasion and metastasis.

Key words: Rho GTPases, cell division cycle 42, signal pathway；microRNAs, cancerRho