Notch pathway is highly conservative and exists extensively in a variety of animals. It plays a crucial role in the biological activities of cells, including meditated cell-to-cell communication and reaction in relevant signaling pathway, regulation of proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. Recent research of Notch has revealed that there is a close connection between Notch signaling and cancers. Notch signal not only plays a role in the promotion of some cancers such as breast cancer, small cell lung carcinoma and melanoma, but also in suppression of other cancers like non-small cell lung carcinoma and skin cancer. This article reviews the characterization of Notch signal, specially in its promotion and suppression effect on individual cancers.
