title: Why targeted therapy hasn't worked in advanced cancer.
abstract: In this issue of the JCI, Nissen et al. report that a reciprocal interaction exists between the growth factors FGF2 and PDGF-BB, causing tumors to exhibit increased angiogenesis and metastatic potential. Both FGF2 and PDGF-BB signal through tyrosine kinase receptors, which have been the target of tyrosine kinase inhibitors for cancer therapies. These inhibitors are usually small molecules that inhibit the kinase activity of a receptor or nonreceptor tyrosine kinase, preventing downstream signaling. The results of this study shed light on why tyrosine kinase inhibitors have been useful for the treatment of only a small number of advanced cancers. Currently, a major focus of pharmaceutical companies is to develop ever more potent and specific tyrosine kinases. The results presented here suggest that this approach may not be successful.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. jarbise@emory.edu
authors.forename: Jack L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Arbiser
mesh_terms: D000077214:Becaplermin; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D020574:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis; D015398:Signal Transduction; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D020574:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D000077214:Becaplermin; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases