Researchers identify new treatment pathways for common colorectal cancer

An international research team, led by RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences and The Institute of Cancer Research, London, has identified potential new ways to treat microsatellite stable (MSS) colorectal cancer. This specific type accounts for 80-85% of the 2,500 new bowel cancer cases diagnosed annually in Ireland, yet it remains difficult to treat with current therapies.

By analyzing genetic, metabolic, and clinical data from 2,000 patient tumor samples, researchers utilized a new artificial intelligence approach called ‘iPhenMap’ to create biological maps of tumors. This technology allowed the team to identify previously unrecognized ways cancer cells divide, grow, and interact with their environment.

The study provides a roadmap for repurposing existing drugs and developing new ones. Researchers successfully identified vulnerabilities in these tumors and demonstrated through laboratory models that specific drug combinations, including those already approved for other tumor types, could effectively target the cancer.