Fig. 5From: Signaling pathways in intestinal homeostasis and colorectal cancer: KRAS at centre stageSchematic illustration of the impact of KRAS oncogenic mutations on intestinal homeostasis. a Oncogenic KRAS can regulate HIF-1α at the transcriptional level to induce multiple signaling processes including angiogenesis, but it can also regulate pro-angiogenic factors through the HIF-independent regulation of angiogenesis to enhance tumor growth. b Oncogenic KRAS supports cancer cells growth by enhancing metabolic pathways via transcriptional regulation of HIF-1α and macropinocytosis. c The accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in KRAS-driven cancer favours cancer initiation and progression through different pathways. d Autophagy in oncogenic KRAS-driven CRC supports tumor growth by increasing glucose metabolism, favouring access to nutrients, and decreasing inflammatory mediators. e Oncogenic KRAS confers apoptosis resistance through the up-regulation of Bcl-xL but also through TRAIL signaling rewiring. f The colon tumor microenvironment (TME) and oncogenic KRAS work together to promote tumor progression through, e.g. cancer-associated fibroblast (CAFs) as well as cytokines production and regulationBack to article page