Roles of Casein Kinase I η and δ in Gastrointestinal Cancers: Potential New Screening Markers and Drug Targets

Casein Kinase I η (CKIη) and Casein Kinase I δ (CKIδ) are Serine/Threonine Kinases that have been implicated in several human conditions and have been receiving increasing attention as potential therapeutic targets. Recent findings in gastrointestinal cancers strengthen this notion and suggest that they may also play important roles in both colon cancer and pancreatic cancer, which are among the most common and deadly cancers affecting both men and women. In this short review, we summarize up to date what is known about these two kinases and their involvement in carcinogenesis and other pathological conditions. Our emphasis is on their implications in gastrointestinal cancers and their potential for screening and cancer therapy.