Genetically druggable targets for MAPK-activated colorectal cancer by a two-sample mendelian randomization analysis.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant worldwide health issue, ranking second in women and third in men. Predictions estimate a rise to 2.5 million cases by 2035, with CRC being the fourth deadliest cancer due to delayed diagnosis and the scarcity of effective treatment options. Over 60% of CRC cases involve MAPK-activated signal pathways, particularly driven by RAS oncogene mutations, which hinder treatment responses, making them 'undruggable.' This study conducts a two-sample Mendelian randomization protein quantitative trait loci (pQTL) analysis to investigate the causal association between plasma proteins and MAPK-activated CRCs. The study indicates that four plasma proteins-MHC class I polypeptide-related sequence B (MICB), complement C4A, C4B, and interleukin-21 (IL-21) are associated with an increased risk of MAPK-activated CRCs. These findings highlight the possibility of utilizing plasma proteins as therapeutic targets and diagnostic markers to advance the fight against CRCs, indicating promising results for more effective interventions. To ascertain and expand upon these discoveries, further research is imperative to fully harness the potential of these discoveries.