Insulin-like growth factor system in neuroblastoma tumorigenesis and apoptosis: potential diagnostic and therapeutic perspectives.
Apoptosis is a cell death program which is modulated by a variety of factors including growth factors, signal transduction molecules and inducers of gene expression or DNA replication. Of particular interest is Type I insulin-like growth factor receptor which contains a tyrosine kinase domain linked to the ras-raf-MAPK cascade. This receptor has antiapoptotic effects in a number of in vivo and in vitro models, thus making IGF-I-R a potential target for gene therapy. Particularly the growth of neuroblastoma depends on IGFs which exert their effect through the Type I IGF receptor. This review highlights the role of the IGF-system in neuroblastoma and points at possible modulators with the aim of inducing differentiation or apoptosis of tumor cells.
Zumkeller
W
W
German Cancer Research Centre, Division of Cytogenetics, Heidelberg, Germany.
Schwab
M
M
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D018969:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects
D018969:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I