beta1 integrin as a molecular therapeutic target.
OBJECTIVE
Radiation therapy (RT) is a commonly used modality to treat human cancer. However, dose-limiting toxicity and resistance are major problems to improving treatment efficacy. Increasing evidence has pointed to the critical role of the tumor microenvironment and cell-extracellular matrix (ECM), specifically via beta1 integrins, in modifying response to therapy, including radiation. beta1 integrins have been implicated in several key processes in malignant progression and metastasis, and more recently in mediating resistance to cytotoxic chemotherapy and radiation. Evidence is mounting that beta1 integrins mediate essential survival signals post-IR, through both canonical and non-canonical integrin signaling pathways that make it a highly promising therapeutic target for several solid malignancies.


CONCLUSIONS
In this mini-review article, we briefly summarize the most recent emerging findings concerning beta1 integrin and radiation survival that indicate the promise of beta1 integrin inhibitory agents as radiosensitizers.
OncoRay - Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany. Nils.Cordes@Oncoray.de
Nils
N
Cordes
Catherine C
CC
Park
D000818:Animals; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000528:radiation effects; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019012:Integrin beta1 / Q000502:physiology*; D016023:Integrins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D011836:Radiation Tolerance; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011853:Radiobiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000528:radiation effects
D019012:Integrin beta1; D016023:Integrins; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents