Growth factors and tyrosine kinase receptors during development and cancer.
During development and throughout life, cell growth and differentiation is an active and highly regulated process that is mediated by polypeptide growth factors. As we learn more about growth factors and their receptors we begin to understand the consequences of their interactions during normal development and oncogenesis. Cancers arise from cells harboring mutations that relinquish the need for exogenous growth factors. Deregulation of growth control ultimately leads to selection of clonal lines of cells that replicate at embryonic pace yet fail to respond to differentiation and maturation signals. Particular attention is now being focused on both understanding the molecular mechanism of growth factor-mediated signal transduction and identifying novel factors and their receptors. This identifies a variety of cellular proteins, including growth factor receptors themselves, as relevant and accessible targets for disrupting signaling and nullifying tumor growth.
Boyle
W J
WJ
Dept. of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Amgen Center, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320.
D000818:Animals; D005544:Forecasting; D006128:Growth / Q000502:physiology*; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006728:Hormones / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000502:physiology*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
D006133:Growth Substances; D006728:Hormones; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases