Recent clinical trials and optical control as a potential strategy to develop microtubule-targeting drugs in colorectal cancer management

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) has remained the second and the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide and in the United States, respectively. Although significant improvement in overall survival has been achieved, death in adult populations under the age of 55 appears to have increased in the past decades. Although new classes of therapeutic strategies such as immunotherapy have emerged, their application is very limited in CRC so far. Microtubule (MT) inhibitors such as taxanes, are not generally successful in CRC. There may be some way to make MT inhibitors work effectively in CRC. One potential advantage that we can take to treat CRC may be the combination of optical techniques coupled to an endoscope or other fiber optics-based devices. A combination of optical devices and photo-activatable drugs may allow us to locally target advanced CRC cells with highly potent MT-targeting drugs. In this Editorial review, we would like to discuss the potential of optogenetic approaches in CRC management.

Photo-activated microtubule targeting drugs: Advancing therapies for colorectal cancer

“…Could light be the key to better colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment? The recent review by Kita et al [ 1 ] , titled “Recent clinical trials and optical control as a potential strategy to develop microtubule-targeting drugs in colorectal cancer management” is particularly timely and clinically relevant article offering the potential of optical control for more effective CRC treatment. The review is aimed towards improving treatment of CRC patients with a focus on therapeutic potential of microtubule (MT)-inhibitor drugs.…”