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World J Gastroenterol. Feb 28, 2014; 20(8): 1923-1934
Published online Feb 28, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i8.1923
Published online Feb 28, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i8.1923
Targeting cell death signaling in colorectal cancer: Current strategies and future perspectives
Bruno Christian Koehler, Dirk Jäger, Henning Schulze-Bergkamen, National Center for Tumor Diseases, University Hospitals Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
Author contributions: Koehler BC, Jäger D and Schulze-Bergkamen H designed research; Koehler BC, Jäger D and Schulze-Bergkamen H wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Henning Schulze-Bergkamen, MD, National Center for Tumor Diseases, University Hospitals Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 460, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany. henning.schulze@med.uni-heidelberg.de
Telephone: +49-6221-560 Fax: +49-6221-5633966
Received: September 23, 2013
Revised: December 6, 2013
Accepted: January 14, 2014
Published online: February 28, 2014
Processing time: 155 Days and 12 Hours
Revised: December 6, 2013
Accepted: January 14, 2014
Published online: February 28, 2014
Processing time: 155 Days and 12 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: This review highlights current strategies targeting cell death signaling in colorectal cancer. The role of apoptosis, autophagy and necroptosis in the normal colon mucosa as well as in colorectal cancer onset and therapy is defined. Relevant small molecule compounds as well as antisense based approaches for the treatment of colorectal cancer are illustrated. Furthermore, clinical trials investigating new cell death based compounds are discussed. Finally, future directions in translational cell death research are discussed.