Ras-p21 is an important signal transducer, and hence a crucial growth regulator of cells. Because of the multiple activities controlled by ras p21 any point mutation in the ras can lead to uncontrolled proliferation and/or loss of differentiation of the cell. Activating mutations in ras have been detected in a wide variety of human and animal tumors. In humans the frequency of mutations in K-ras far exceeds that of H- and N-ras . Further the importance of K-ras is also reflected in the lethality of K-ras knockout mice while the H- and N-ras knockouts are viable. Point mutations in codon 12, 13, and 61 of the K-ras gene are important during colon, lung and pancreatic tumorigenesis, but the impact of type, and position of such mutations on the progression of adenomas as well as the clinical behavior of carcinomas is not clearly established. Since p21-ras is an important signal transducer and turns on a multitude of signaling pathways, derangement of signaling is a recurrent theme in tumors harboring ras mutation. Thus it is possible that differences in the spectra of mutant K-ras can turn on different signaling events which in turn can dictate various malignant growth profiles. Although most of the understanding on ras p21 and its signaling is comprehensively done in fibroblast cells, very few reports exists for its functioning in epithelial cells. The signaling pathways initiated by ras in fibroblasts maybe different from those initiated in epithelial cells and since the majority of human cancers are epithelial in origin, we want to address the question regarding the functioning of K-ras in lung type II epithelial cells which are the precursors of NSCLC.

CDFD is a premier institute serving for the cause of better health to our public and in this regard a project has been initiated for the early detection of precancerous cervix lesions in the women residing in the rural community of Medchal by following three methods; (1) Pap-smear test-cytological testing, (2)Visual inspection of cervix by acetic acid (VIA), (3) HPV screening for high risk types. While Pap-test and VIA will be conducted by the doctors at Medchal medicity hospital, the HPV test will be done using the hybrid capture-II method at CDFD. This kind of a collaborative approach with SHARE-India will help to identify screening modality most appropriate for rural India, which will be effective in detection and prevention of cancer cervix.