EGFR and downstream genetic alterations in KRAS/BRAF and PI3K/AKT pathways in colorectal cancer: implications for targeted therapy

Discov Med. 2012 Sep;14(76):207-14.

Abstract

The promise of individualized treatment is gradually being fulfilled, and targeted therapy is becoming a powerful strategy to treat selected patients based on their molecular profile. For metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients anti-EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) targeted therapy has markedly improved disease control and survival. However, only a subgroup of patients with mCRC respond to anti-EGFR treatment, and selecting the patients with a positive effect from treatment is important for both the patient and the society. Patients with mutations in the KRAS gene are known as non-responders to anti-EGFR treatment and, consequently, KRAS testing has been employed in routine clinical practice for patient selection. However, a large number of the KRAS wildtype patients do not respond to this treatment. The molecular mechanism underlying response is not fully understood, and other members of the KRAS-BRAF pathway and PI3K-AKT pathway are investigated as predictive biomarkers. Furthermore, concordance of mutation status of primary tumors and their corresponding hepatic or pulmonary metastases, as well as treatment-induced mutations, possess another challenge for properly tailoring the appropriate therapy to this patient group. In this review, molecular biomarkers involved in prediction of response to anti-EGFR treatment are discussed.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • Cell Survival
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Genes, ras
  • Humans
  • Models, Biological
  • Mutation
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism*
  • ras Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • ErbB Receptors
  • BRAF protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • ras Proteins