Transcription factors and colorectal cancer: An overview

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths worldwide among various cancer malignancies. The drugs and targeted therapies that target various intracellular signaling pathways have improved the progression free survival of CRC patients, but they suffer with therapeutic resistance. Dysregulation or mutations in several oncogenic transcriptional factors such as c-MYC, nuclear factor κB (NFκB), NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT-3) and p53, were reported to be associated with CRC. Understanding the transcription factors involved in various CRC pathogenesis will be useful in designing novel therapeutic strategies specifically targeting the dysregulated transcription factors. This chapter emphasizes the role of major transcription factors and their dysregulation in CRC.