Identifying critical kinases involved in tumor growth and invasion is pivotal for advancing the development of more efficient targeted therapies for metastatic or advanced-stage colorectal cancer (CRC).
In this new editorial, researchers Patricia M. Gomez Barila and Jan Paul Medema from the University of Amsterdam and Amsterdam University Medical Centers discuss colorectal cancer (CRC) one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide.
Navigating CRC Heterogeneity: Advances in Early Diagnosis and Targeted Therapies
Early diagnosis and adequate treatment are crucial for improving patient prognosis, although this remains difficult due to the high molecular and clinical heterogeneity of the disease. However, recent efforts have been made to stratify CRC patients and uncover novel targeted therapies for patient groups with a poor response to available chemotherapy.
One of the CRC classification systems involves the identification of key pathways that are dysregulated due to genetic mutations or differential cellular wiring. Important known pathways in CRC include the Wnt, MAPK, PI3K and p53 pathways.
Kinases are the proteins responsible for carrying out the signal transduction within the pathways, leading to particular cellular phenotypes, such as increased proliferation and migration. More specifically, higher activity and dysregulation of certain kinases has been widely shown in cancer, with the modulation of kinase activity through available chemical inhibitors leading to successful treatment options for a number of patients.
Source: Eurekalert
