Downstream intracellular effectors of epidermal growth factor receptor as targets for anticancer therapy.
In recent years, the knowledge about mutations in components of the intracellular signal transduction pathway has greatly improved. Pivotal target molecules, such as Ras, PI3K, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and PKC, form an important biochemical network, which, when mutated, drives cell growth in an unlimited manner. Cancer cells have been shown to be able to harness different growth factor signalling pathways. Protein kinase inhibitors, targeted to the above pathways, have demonstrated activity against several solid tumours and are generally better tolerated than standard cytotoxic agents. The future challenge will be to find the most clever way to use combinations of these novel compounds.
Milano
Amalia
A
Istituto Nazionale Tumori Fondazione G. Pascale, Via M. Semmola, 80131 Napoli, Italy. ammilan@tin.it
De Rosa
Vincenzo
V
Iaffaioli
Rosario Vincenzo
RV
Caponigro
Francesco
F
D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007424:Intracellular Fluid / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics
D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D066246:ErbB Receptors