The insulin-like growth factor I receptor: a key to tumor growth?
The insulin-like growth factor I receptor (IGF-IR) belongs to the family of transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptors, like the receptors for platelet-derived growth factor, the epidermal growth factor, insulin, and others. Genetic evidence has shown that the IGF-IR is required for optimal growth in vitro and in vivo. Even more important, however, have been recent findings from several laboratories clearly showing that the IGF-IR is an absolute requirement for the establishment and maintenance of the transformed phenotype, both in vivo and in vitro and in several cell types. These findings indicate that the IGF-IR plays a central role in the mechanism of transformation and, as such, could be a preferred target for therapeutic interventions.
Baserga
R
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Jefferson Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Philadelphia 19107.
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology*; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D010641:Phenotype; D051381:Rats; D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1 / Q000502:physiology*
D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1