Novel molecular approaches to treat colorectal cancer

Abstract

Colorectal cancer is found to be the third most common type of cancer which has raised cases and mortality rate, worldwide. Patients with colorectal cancer, depending on tumour stage, undergo surgery, followed by either chemotherapy or radiotherapy. These treatments are non – specific and have adverse side effects, making patients even more immunocompromised. Scientists are therefore actively investigating alternative therapeutic strategies that are more targeted towards the tumour cells, including immunotherapeutic approaches like CAR T – cell transfer, vaccines, and immune checkpoint inhibitors. The current study focuses on immune checkpoint inhibitors, which were shown to be successful in microsatellite instable metastatic colorectal cancer patients. However, treatment of colorectal cancer is complicated by the fact that cancer cells develop resistance towards treatments and therefore will most likely require a combinational or even patient-tailored approach. Therefore, this study also extensively discusses new targeted molecular approaches, that can expand overall survival and improve quality of life.