B-raf belongs to the raf/mil family of serine/threonine protein kinases and plays a role in regulating the MAP kinase/ERKs signaling pathway, which affects cell division, differentiation, and secretion. The Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK and Ras/PI3K/PTEN/Akt pathways interact with each other to regulate growth and in some cases tumorigenesis. Mutations in B-raf have been associated with several cancers, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma, colorectal cancer, malignant melanoma, thyroid carcinoma, non-small cell lung carcinoma, and adenocarcinoma of lung, leading to speculation on the possibility of B-raf as a therapeutic target for treating cancers. Mutations in this gene have also been associated with cardiofaciocutaneous syndrome (CFCS), a disease characterized by heart defects, mental retardation and a distinctive facial appearance.