Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and its activated downstream signalling pathways play a crucial role in colorectal cancer development and progression. After four decades of preclinical, translational, and clinical research, it has been shown that blocking the EGFR signalling pathway at different molecular levels represents a fundamental therapeutic strategy for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Nevertheless, the efficacy of molecularly targeted therapies is inescapably limited by the insurgence of mechanisms of acquired cancer cell resistance. Thus, in the era of precision medicine, a deeper understanding of the complex molecular landscape of metastatic colorectal cancer is required to deliver the best treatment choices to all patients. Major efforts are currently ongoing to improve patient selection, improve the efficacy of available treatments targeting the EGFR pathway, and develop novel combination strategies to overcome therapy resistance within the continuum of care of metastatic colorectal cancer.

中文翻译：

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靶向转移性结直肠癌中的 EGFR 信号通路


表皮生长因子受体（EGFR）及其激活的下游信号通路在结直肠癌的发生和进展中发挥着至关重要的作用。经过四十年的临床前、转化和临床研究，已经表明在不同分子水平上阻断EGFR信号通路是转移性结直肠癌患者的基本治疗策略。然而，分子靶向治疗的功效不可避免地受到获得性癌细胞耐药机制的影响。因此，在精准医学时代，需要更深入地了解转移性结直肠癌的复杂分子景观，以便为所有患者提供最佳的治疗选择。目前正在努力改善患者选择，提高针对 EGFR 通路的现有治疗的疗效，并开发新的联合策略以克服转移性结直肠癌连续治疗过程中的治疗耐药性。