Our results demonstrate that although RAC3 overexpression could be a signal strong enough to induce cancer stem cells, the inflammatory microenvironment may be playing a key role contributing to the migratory and invasive phenotype required for metastasis and cancer persistence.
Rac3 may be a potential biomarker of invasion and metastasis for lung adenocarcinoma, and knockdown of Rac3 may potentially serve as a promising therapeutic target for lung adenocarcinoma.
Rac proteins of the Rho-like GTPase family, including the ubiquitous Rac1, the hematopoiesis-specific Rac2, and the least-characterized Rac3 play a major role in oncogenic transformation, tumor invasion and metastasis.