Molecular Pathways of Colorectal Cancer Development: Mechanisms of Action and Evolution of Main Systemic Therapy Compunds.

Background: Colorectal cancer is known as one of the "big killers" in oncology given its burden in terms on morbidity and mortality. Since the second half of the last century, similarly to what happened for other solid tumors, a large series of cytotoxic molecules have been developed and tested to treat this disease.

Summary: Following new discoveries in terms of colorectal cancer pathogenesis and specific pathways involved such as angiogenesis, a new series of drugs have been developed: targeted therapies.

Key messages: In this review, we will briefly describe colorectal cancer molecular biology and its main pathways in order to retrace the main stages of oncological treatment development for colorectal cancer from the first available treatments to novel approaches to the disease.