Using kinase inhibitors in subsets of colorectal cancer patients

A new editorial paper was published in Oncoscience (Volume 10) on June 27, 2023, entitled, "Kinase-targeted therapy in subsets of colorectal cancer."

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. 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. Accordingly, uncovering essential kinases for tumor growth and invasion is crucial in the development of more effective targeted therapy in metastatic or later stage CRC.

"[...] further insight into the kinase dependency and the subsequent use of kinase inhibitors in a more subset specific manner will result in improved treatment for CRC patients that have a poor response to available chemotherapy."