The role of PI3K signaling pathway in intestinal tumorigenesis

The phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3K) are a family of signaling enzymes that regulate multiple key cellular functions including cell cycle progression, growth, migration, apoptosis, and vesicular trafficking. Components of this pathway are necessary for normal growth and development, but due to both genetic and metabolic changes, this pathway can become dysregulated as early as the fetal period. Continued alterations of the PI3K pathway can frequently lead to activation of cancer development and metastasis. As more information is discovered about the components of this pathway and their signaling mechanisms we have opportunities to exploit multiple sites of the cascade, and develop targeted inhibitors against these small molecules. A thorough understanding of this pathway and its signaling mechanisms is paramount to the development of new and improved treatments for intestinal cancers.