Overcoming Obstacles to Targeting Muscarinic Receptor Signaling in Colorectal Cancer.
Date
2021-01-13Journal
International Journal of Molecular SciencesPublisher
MDPI AGType
ArticleOther
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Despite great advances in our understanding of the pathobiology of colorectal cancer and the genetic and environmental factors that mitigate its onset and progression, a paucity of effective treatments persists. The five-year survival for advanced, stage IV disease remains substantially less than 20%. This review examines a relatively untapped reservoir of potential therapies to target muscarinic receptor expression, activation, and signaling in colorectal cancer. Most colorectal cancers overexpress M3 muscarinic receptors (M3R), and both in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that activating these receptors stimulates cellular programs that result in colon cancer growth, survival, and spread. In vivo studies using mouse models of intestinal neoplasia have shown that using either genetic or pharmacological approaches to block M3R expression and activation, respectively, attenuates the development and progression of colon cancer. Moreover, both in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that blocking the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) that are induced selectively by M3R activation, i.e., MMP1 and MMP7, also impedes colon cancer growth and progression. Nonetheless, the widespread expression of muscarinic receptors and MMPs and their importance for many cellular functions raises important concerns about off-target effects and the safety of employing similar strategies in humans. As we highlight in this review, highly selective approaches can overcome these obstacles and permit clinicians to exploit the reliance of colon cancer cells on muscarinic receptors and their downstream signal transduction pathways for therapeutic purposes.Keyword
acetylcholinecolorectal cancer
epidermal growth factor receptors
matrix metalloproteinases
muscarinic receptors
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http://hdl.handle.net/10713/14399ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.3390/ijms22020716
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