Toward that end, the group sequenced 45 million 'reads' from each of the tested tumors, showing 141 genes that are enriched in samples from younger patients and a largely different cohort of 42 genes enriched in samples from older patients. Many of the enriched genes in samples from younger patients are involved in signaling pathways ERBB2, NOTCH3 and CAV1, which are known to spur cell proliferation commonly associated with cancer. In contrast, pathways enriched in samples from older patients included CDX2, HMGB3 and EPHB2, which are primarily involved not in cell proliferation, but in cell differentiation (the ability or inability of cells to move from stem-like cells to more specialized tissues).

The enrichment of ERBB2 (Her2/neu) in samples from younger patients is an especially interesting target given that there are FDA-approved therapies that target this particular gene.

The group plans to validate the finding of these differences in a larger patient population. Then, if these pathways indeed prove to be important drivers of CRC in young patients, the group hopes to explore trials of drugs targeting these potential tumor drivers. Toward this goal, the group has gathered the important resource of tumor samples grown from the tissues of young CRC patients, allowing further preclinical genetic and drug testing.

"If I were to shoot for the stars, I would say that our end goal is to be able to offer better treatments for this population of young colorectal cancer patients that seems to be at higher risk from the disease," Lieu says.

Source: Eurekalert