USP11 role in colorectal cancer growing and metastatisation

Colo-Rectal Cancer (CRC) represents the third cause of cancer related death worldwide [1]. In the early stages (I-III) the approaches available for CRC treatment were represented by surgery followed or anticipated by chemo-radiotherapy. Unfortunately, a 20–25% of patients were diagnosed in advanced stages (IIIB-IV). In the past, for these patients the only therapeutic approach available was represented by chemotherapy. To date, technological innovation and the novel targeted therapies, such as antibodies against epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), showed their efficacy in a percentage of patients (about 50–60%) without mutation in RAS genes (KRAS, NRAS) and BRAF [2]. For this reason, a large part of metastatic CRC mCRC patients did not benefit of these fascinating therapeutic choice. In this setting, a better knowledge of the molecular mechanisms that could lead cancer development and survival represent an investigational hot – topic. Overall, there is a relevant unmet need in metastatic CRC (mCRC) patients with a constitute activation of MAPK pathway, due to the lack of target therapies for mCRC patients in this setting.