New crossroads for potential therapeutic intervention in cancer - intersections between CDCP1, EGFR family members and downstream signaling pathways

Abstract

Signaling pathways regulated by the receptor CDCP1 play central roles in promoting cancer and in mediating resistance to chemo- and targeted-therapies. In this perspective we briefly summarize these findings as well as data demonstrating poorer outcomes for several malignancies that exhibit elevated CDCP1 expression. Promising data from preclinical studies suggest that CDCP1 targeted agents, including therapeutic antibodies, could be useful in the treatment of cancer patients selected on the basis of activation of CDCP1 and its signaling partners including EGFR, HER2, Met and Src.