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Review
. 2020 May 13;12(5):1214.
doi: 10.3390/cancers12051214.

Molecular-Biology-Driven Treatment for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Eleonora Lai  1 , Nicole Liscia  1   2 , Clelia Donisi  1 , Stefano Mariani  1 , Simona Tolu  1   2 , Andrea Pretta  1   2 , Mara Persano  1 , Giovanna Pinna  1 , Francesca Balconi  1 , Annagrazia Pireddu  1   2 , Valentino Impera  1   2 , Marco Dubois  1 , Marco Migliari  1 , Dario Spanu  1 , Giorgio Saba  1 , Silvia Camera  1   2 , Francesca Musio  1 , Pina Ziranu  1 , Marco Puzzoni  1 , Laura Demurtas  1 , Valeria Pusceddu  1 , Manuela Dettori  3 , Elena Massa  1 , Francesco Atzori  1 , Mariele Dessì  1 , Giorgio Astara  1 , Clelia Madeddu  1 , Mario Scartozzi  1
Affiliations
Review

Molecular-Biology-Driven Treatment for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Eleonora Lai et al. Cancers (Basel). .

Abstract

Background: Metastatic CRC (mCRC) is a molecular heterogeneous disease. The aim of this review is to give an overview of molecular-driven treatment of mCRC patients.

Methods: A review of clinical trials, retrospective studies and case reports was performed regarding molecular biomarkers with therapeutic implications.

Results: RAS wild-type status was confirmed as being crucial for anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibodies and for rechallenge strategy. Antiangiogenic therapies improve survival in first- and second-line settings, irrespective of RAS status, while tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) remain promising in refractory mCRC. Promising results emerged from anti-HER2 drugs trials in HER2-positive mCRC. Target inhibitors were successful for BRAFV600E mutant mCRC patients, while immunotherapy was successful for microsatellite instability-high/defective mismatch repair (MSI-H/dMMR) or DNA polymerase epsilon catalytic subunit (POLE-1) mutant patients. Data are still lacking on NTRK, RET, MGMT, and TGF-β, which require further research.

Conclusion: Several molecular biomarkers have been identified for the tailored treatment of mCRC patients and multiple efforts are currently ongoing to increase the therapeutic options. In the era of precision medicine, molecular-biology-driven treatment is the key to impro patient selection and patient outcomes. Further research and large phase III trials are required to ameliorate the therapeutic management of these patients.

Keywords: metastatic colorectal cancer; molecular biomarkers; tailored treatment; therapeutic implications.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Potential targets and drugs for molecular-biology-driven treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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