The dark side of the moon: The PI3K/PTEN/AKT pathway in colorectal carcinoma
- Autori: Silvestris, Nicola*; Tommasi, Stefania; Petriella, Daniela; Santini, Daniele; Fistola, Ettore; Russo, Antonio; Numico, Gianmauro; Tonini, Giuseppe; Maiello, Evaristo; Colucci, Giuseppe
- Anno di pubblicazione: 2010
- Tipologia: Articolo in rivista (Articolo in rivista)
- OA Link: http://hdl.handle.net/10447/291874
Abstract
Wild-type KRAS status is required but not sufficient to confer sensitivity to anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in colorectal cancer patients. As a consequence, one of the major challenges is to identify, in non-mutant KRAS patients, other markers that can predict lack of response to this therapy. Small series have investigated the clinical effect of PIK3CA mutations on resistance to anti-EGFR mAbs and discrepant results have been observed. Furthermore, PTEN loss in metastases may be predictive of resistance to anti-EGFR mAbs, even if PTEN determination is far from an immediate clinical application. The introduction of modulators of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway as potential targeted anticancer drugs is encouraging, but this attractive therapy option is still at an early stage of development. Copyright © 2010 S. Karger AG.