title: Molecular targets of TRAIL-sensitizing agents in colorectal cancer.
abstract: Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL), a member of the TNF superfamily, interacts with its functional death receptors (DRs) and induces apoptosis in a wide range of cancer cell types. Therefore, TRAIL has been considered as an attractive agent for cancer therapy. However, many cancers are resistant to TRAIL-based therapies mainly due to the reduced expression of DRs and/or up-regulation of TRAIL pathway-related anti-apoptotic proteins. Compounds that revert such defects restore the sensitivity of cancer cells to TRAIL, suggesting that combined therapies could help manage neoplastic patients. In this article, we will focus on the TRAIL-sensitizing effects of natural products and synthetic compounds in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells and discuss the molecular mechanisms by which such agents enhance the response of CRC cells to TRAIL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Systems Medicine, University of "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, Rome 00133, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmine
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6354-2443
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stolfi
authors.affiliation: Department of Systems Medicine, University of "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, Rome 00133, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pallone
authors.affiliation: Department of Systems Medicine, University of "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, Rome 00133, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Monteleone
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D015398:Signal Transduction; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand