Apoptosis signaling proteins as prognostic biomarkers in colorectal cancer: a review

Biochim Biophys Acta. 2009 Apr;1795(2):117-29. doi: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2008.12.002. Epub 2009 Jan 6.

Abstract

Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer related mortality in the Western world. In recent years, combination 5-fluorouracil based adjuvant chemotherapy as first line treatment of this disease has led to improved disease free and overall survival. However drug resistance, both innate and acquired, remains an obstacle in the effective treatment of this disease. Apoptotic pathways are frequently altered in both tumor progression and drug resistance; therefore proteins associated with this pathway may have potential as prognostic biomarkers for this disease. Identification of clinical biomarkers that are able to identify patients who are more likely to respond to specific chemotherapy will lead to more personalized, effective, and less toxic therapy. This review focuses on the current status of apoptosis related proteins as biomarkers for colorectal cancer and discusses the possible application of systems approaches in this context.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • Apoptosis*
  • Apoptotic Protease-Activating Factor 1 / analysis
  • Apoptotic Protease-Activating Factor 1 / genetics
  • Autophagy
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis*
  • Caspases / analysis
  • Caspases / physiology
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / analysis
  • Neoplasm Proteins / analysis
  • Prognosis
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / analysis
  • Survivin
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein / analysis
  • bcl-X Protein / analysis

Substances

  • APAF1 protein, human
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • Apoptotic Protease-Activating Factor 1
  • BAX protein, human
  • BCL2L1 protein, human
  • BIRC5 protein, human
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • Survivin
  • XAF1 protein, human
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein
  • bcl-X Protein
  • Caspases