Targeting growth factors in lung cancer.
Lung cancer causes more deaths than any other malignancy in the developed world. Advances in surgical techniques and chemotherapy/radiotherapy regimes have produced only minimal improvements in long-term survival. New therapeutic interventions are urgently required. Research has indicated that growth factor signaling may be an important novel target in lung cancer therapy. Preclinical studies have demonstrated the role of extracellular growth factors in lung cancer cell proliferation, metastasis, and resistance to cytotoxic therapy, and have elucidated the key molecular components of growth factor-signaling cascades. This has enabled the development of selective growth factor inhibitors, which have been evaluated in clinical trials and are now an accepted component of advanced lung cancer treatment. Further research is underway to improve the efficacy of this growth factor-targeted therapy. This article will outline the important aspects of this translational research indicating the growth factor-signaling pathways identified in lung cancer, clinical trials of anti-growth factor therapy, and potential future research directions.
Hodkinson
Philip S
PS
University of Edinburgh, MRC Centre for Inflammation Research, Queen's Institute of Medical Research, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, Scotland, UK.
Mackinnon
Alison
A
Sethi
Tariq
T
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000097:blood; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins