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World J Gastroenterol. Dec 28, 2007; 13(48): 6470-6477
Published online Dec 28, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i48.6470
AKT and ERK1/2 signaling in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma
KJ Schmitz, H Lang, J Wohlschlaeger, GC Sotiropoulos, H Reis, KW Schmid, HA Baba
KJ Schmitz, J Wohlschlaeger, H Reis, KW Schmid, HA Baba, Institute of Pathology and Neuropathology, University Hospital of Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Germany
H Lang, GC Sotiropoulos, Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital of Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Germany
H Lang, KW Schmid, Members of the West German Cancer Center, Germany
Correspondence to: HA Baba, Institute of Pathology and Neuropathology, D-45147 Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, Germany. hideo.baba@uk-essen.de
Telephone: +49-201-7233577 Fax: +49-201-7233378
Received: August 17, 2007
Revised: September 11, 2007
Accepted: September 26, 2007
Published online: December 28, 2007
Abstract

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas (ICC) are neoplasms that originate from cholangiocytes and can occur at any level of the biliary tree. Surgical resection is the current therapy of choice for this highly aggressive cancer. However, the 5-year survival still is poor, with high recurrence rates. Due to the intrahepatic growth a significant proportion of patients present with advanced disease and are not candidates for curative surgery or transplantation. The existing palliative options are of limited benefit and there is a great necessity for novel therapeutic options. In this article we review the role of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase(PI3K)/ AKT and extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathways in ICC and present new data on the prognostic value of these protein kinases. Finally, we discuss future upcoming therapeutic options based on targeting these signaling pathways.

Keywords: Extra cellular regulated kinases; Cholangio-carcinoma; Prognosis; Oncology; Immunohistochemistry