KRAS and cancer: Nevertheless, we found that tanshinone I could cause a series of changes highly similar to those induced by siRNA knockdown of PLA2G2A in pancreatic cancer cells, suggesting that inhibition of PLA2G2A is likely a major mechanism of tanshinone I. Since tanshinone I is an active component of Dan-shen, which is used in tradition Chinese medicine for treatment of certain illnesses safely, it would be feasible to use tanshinone I for potential treatment of K-ras-driven cancer.