Receptors for Targeting Gastrointestinal Tract Cancer

Abstract

Cancers of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) are among the most prevalent and fatal cancers. Historically, surgical resection was the only effective treatment of operable GIT tumors. However, more than half of these patients present locally advanced, recurrent, or metastatic disease, necessitating development of alternate strategies for possible therapy. Cellular receptors are instrumental in controlling the basic traits of a cell. Binding of specific ligands to these receptors results in changes in gene expression and increase in cell metabolism, cell growth, or cell death. The therapeutic prospects of ligands for somatostatin receptors (SSTRs), c-Kit, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) along with receptor-mediated strategies have been discussed in this chapter. Ligands for these receptors include peptides, small molecules, and oligonucleotides that can be delivered using nanoparticulate delivery systems tailored for specific application. Some important drug candidates undergoing clinical trials have also been mentioned to convey the potential of these receptors as targets for GIT cancer therapy.