Differentiation and malignant transformation: two roads diverged in a wood.
Growth factors and their receptors are known to send at times contradictory signals, such as proliferation or differentiation. Recent developments in our knowledge of growth factor receptors and their signaling pathways have clarified the basis for this puzzling behavior. Separate domains of a receptor and/or the availability of specific substrates determine the fate of a cell stimulated by the same growth factor. In some models, the difference between malignant transformation and differentiation (leading to cell death) may depend on the presence or absence of a single agonist or antagonist molecule. The type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor will serve as the paradigm for this review. J. Cell. Biochem. Suppls. 32/33:68-75, 1999.
Baserga
R
R
Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, USA. r_baserga@lac.jci.tju.edu
Morrione
A
A
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000473:pathology*; D006413:Hematopoietic System / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D011972:Receptor, Insulin / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1; D011972:Receptor, Insulin