The grim statistics of colorectal cancer in America, with an estimated 53,000 deaths in 2024, reflect a persistent and growing challenge in combating this disease, especially among younger demographics under age 50. A contributing factor to this challenge is a mutation in the KRAS gene, which is present in about 41% of all colorectal cancer cases. While 2021 saw the approval of the first drug targeting the KRAS mutation by the Food and Drug Administration, cancer's ever-mutating nature and drug resistance necessitate continuous scientific inquiry into new treatment strategies.
As part of this inquiry, the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center's own Joan Garrett, PhD, earning a National Cancer Institute grant for $162,000 over two years, will spearhead research focused on a combination approach to treat these KRAS-mutated cancers. Under 50 patients continue to be diagnosed and die from the disease, highlighting a critical need for advancements in treatment protocols and personalized medicine. Garrett and her team seek to leverage the latest scientific findings to improve patient outcomes.
In an effort to intercept the cancer's defensive adaptations, Garrett's research specifically looks at KRAS inhibition and its interaction with the HER family of genes. "So co-targeting this HER family with KRAS is the goal of the project," Garrett, a Cancer Center researcher and associate professor in UC’s James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy, told UC News. Prior work from Garrett's lab has shown that when colorectal cancer cells are treated with KRAS inhibitors, HER3 levels counterintuitively rise, allowing the malignant cells a pathway to survival.
The research funded by the National Cancer Institute grant is set to utilize patient-derived xenografts, which involves implanting human tumor samples into animal models—a promising method for studying the effectiveness of combination therapies in a real-world biological context. The findings from Garrett's research have the potential to significantly advance the understanding of how to effectively target KRAS-mutated colorectal cancers and, ultimately, improve survival rates for patients affected by this aggressive form of cancer. As researchers hoping to induce remission in these patients, persistent effort and dedication to uncovering novel treatment combinations are essential.
