Protein trafficking in colorectal carcinogenesis-targeting and bypassing resistance to currently applied treatments

Carcinogenesis. 2015 Jun;36(6):607-15. doi: 10.1093/carcin/bgv052. Epub 2015 Apr 11.

Abstract

Membrane receptors constitute novel targets during current treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) due to the fact that their aberrant expression/activity favors cancer cell properties. Protein trafficking is responsible for the correct targeting of membrane receptors to the apical and basolateral surfaces, as well as to the adherent and tight junctions of the cell. Impaired availability or distribution of these receptors along the plasma membrane is not only associated with defective cellular homeostasis and tumor progression, but also to emerging mechanisms of resistance to CRC-targeted therapy. The present review describes how protein trafficking facilitates invasion and metastasis of CRC cells and focuses on receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) endocytic transport, providing thoughts for surpassing RTKs-centered mechanisms of resistance.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis
  • Carcinogenesis / pathology*
  • Cell Membrane
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
  • Humans
  • Neoplasm Metastasis / pathology*
  • Protein Transport / physiology*
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases