Open AccessGenotypic characteristics of resistant tumors to pre-operative ionizing radiation in rectal cancer
Author(s) -
Zeeshan Ramzan
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
world journal of gastrointestinal oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.924
H-Index - 26
ISSN - 1948-5204
DOI - 10.4251/wjgo.v6.i7.194
Subject(s) - medicine , ionizing radiation , colorectal cancer , radiation therapy , cancer , cancer research , oncology , dna repair , adjuvant , dna , genetics , irradiation , physics , biology , nuclear physics
Due to a wide range of clinical response in patients undergoing neo-adjuvant chemoradiation for rectal cancer it is essential to understand molecular factors that lead to the broad response observed in patients receiving the same form of treatment. Despite extensive research in this field, the exact mechanisms still remain elusive. Data raging from DNA-repair to specific molecules leading to cell survival as well as resistance to apoptosis have been investigated. Individually, or in combination, there is no single pathway that has become clinically applicable to date. In the following review, we describe the current status of various pathways that might lead to resistance to the therapeutic applications of ionizing radiation in rectal cancer.