Int J Biol Sci 2024; 20(5):1947-1964. doi:10.7150/ijbs.88779 This issue Cite
Review
1. Biomedical Research Center and Key Laboratory of Biotherapy of Zhejiang Province, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
2. Department of Pathology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
3. Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Taizhou, Zhejiang, China.
4. School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
5. Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines; Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines; Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) is an oncogene implicated in the pathophysiology of many cancers. Increasing evidence shows that KRAS mutation is correlated with poor prognosis in numerous cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC), breast cancer, and melanoma. KRAS also participates in regulating the CRC microenvironment. However, the direct and indirect therapeutic targets of KRAS in CRC have not been identified; thus, elucidating the mechanisms and interactions between KRAS and the tumor microenvironment (TME) in-depth is paramount. Herein, we present some of the major roles KRAS plays in shaping the heterogeneity of the TME and propose a potential strategy for targeting the downstream components of the KRAS signaling pathway and the TME in CRC.
Keywords: Colorectal cancer, KRAS mutation, Tumor microenvironment, Immunotherapy