Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 31, 2026

Profiling Sensitivity to Targeted Therapies in EGFR-Mutant NSCLC Patient-Derived Organoids
08:52

Profiling Sensitivity to Targeted Therapies in EGFR-Mutant NSCLC Patient-Derived Organoids

Published on: November 22, 2021

4.6K

miRNAs as Modulators of EGFR Therapy in Colorectal Cancer

Diane M Pereira1, Cecília M P Rodrigues2

  • 1Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.

Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
|January 10, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Drug resistance in colorectal cancer limits anti-EGFR therapy. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) may explain resistance and offer non-invasive monitoring for treatment response and prediction.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Drug resistance is a major challenge in cancer treatment, particularly for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).
  • Anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) therapies like cetuximab and panitumumab are standard treatments, but their efficacy is limited by intrinsic or acquired resistance.
  • While KRAS/NRAS mutations predict resistance, RAS wild-type patients still experience suboptimal response rates, necessitating further investigation into resistance mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the role of microRNA (miRNA) deregulation in mediating resistance to anti-EGFR therapies in mCRC.
  • To investigate the potential of miRNAs as biomarkers for monitoring anti-EGFR therapy response and predicting resistance.
  • To highlight the development of miRNA-based strategies to overcome limitations in EGFR-directed cancer therapy.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature on miRNA expression profiles and their association with anti-EGFR therapy response in mCRC.
  • Analysis of genetic and epigenetic mechanisms contributing to drug resistance.
  • Exploration of circulating miRNAs as potential non-invasive biomarkers.

Main Results:

  • Deregulation of miRNA expression profiles is implicated as a significant factor in resistance to EGFR-targeted therapies.
  • miRNAs can modulate the response to EGFR inhibitors, impacting treatment outcomes in mCRC.
  • Circulating miRNAs show promise as non-invasive indicators for monitoring treatment efficacy and predicting resistance.

Conclusions:

  • miRNA expression profiles are crucial for understanding and potentially overcoming resistance to anti-EGFR therapies in metastatic colorectal cancer.
  • Circulating miRNAs represent a valuable, non-invasive tool for real-time monitoring of patient response and prediction of resistance to anti-EGFR treatments.
  • Targeting or utilizing miRNAs could lead to improved therapeutic strategies and personalized treatment approaches for mCRC patients.
Keywords:
Anti-EGFR therapyEpidermal growth factor receptorPrognostic markerTherapy resistancemiRNA

More Related Videos

Orthotopic Mouse Model of Colorectal Cancer08:43

Orthotopic Mouse Model of Colorectal Cancer

Published on: December 4, 2007

47.2K
A Genetically Engineered Mouse Model of Sporadic Colorectal Cancer06:01

A Genetically Engineered Mouse Model of Sporadic Colorectal Cancer

Published on: July 6, 2017

10.0K

Related Concept Videos

Cancer Therapies02:49

Cancer Therapies

Cancer therapies are various modes of treatment, such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy that are administered to cancer patients.
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
10.2K
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
8.9K
Gene Therapy00:59

Gene Therapy

Gene therapy is a technique where a gene is inserted into a person’s cells to prevent or treat a serious disease. The added gene may be a healthy version of the gene that is mutated in the patient, or it could be a different gene that inactivates or compensates for the patient’s disease-causing gene. For example, in patients with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) due to a mutation in the gene for the enzyme adenosine deaminase, a functioning version of the gene can be...
27.6K
Group Therapy01:26

Group Therapy

Group therapy is a sociocultural approach to psychological treatment, where individuals with shared psychological challenges come together under the guidance of a mental health professional. This therapeutic modality offers unique opportunities for individuals to connect, share, and grow within the context of a supportive group. By fostering mutual understanding and collaboration, group therapy can address a range of psychological concerns effectively, often complementing or surpassing the...
433
Behavior Therapy01:22

Behavior Therapy

Behavior therapy incorporates diverse techniques rooted in classical conditioning principles to address maladaptive behaviors and anxiety disorders. These methods aim to reduce avoidance behaviors, foster adaptive coping mechanisms, and alter associations between stimuli and responses, making them effective in a wide range of therapeutic contexts.
Exposure therapy is a cornerstone of behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders. It involves systematic exposure to feared stimuli, either in real...
702
Drug Therapy01:28

Drug Therapy

The advent of drug therapy has profoundly shaped modern mental health care, providing targeted treatments for a range of psychological disorders. Psychotherapeutic drugs, classified into antianxiety, antidepressant, and antipsychotic medications, address symptoms across anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and schizophrenia. While these medications have transformed patient outcomes, they require careful management due to their potential side effects and limitations.
Antianxiety Medications
294