Targeting fibroblast growth factor pathways in prostate cancer.
Advanced prostate cancer carries a poor prognosis and novel therapies are needed. Research has focused on identifying mechanisms that promote angiogenesis and cellular proliferation during prostate cancer progression from the primary tumor to bone-the principal site of prostate cancer metastases. One candidate pathway is the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) axis. Aberrant expression of FGF ligands and FGF receptors leads to constitutive activation of multiple downstream pathways involved in prostate cancer progression including mitogen-activated protein kinase, phosphoinositide 3-kinase, and phospholipase Cγ. The involvement of FGF pathways in multiple mechanisms relevant to prostate tumorigenesis provides a rationale for the therapeutic blockade of this pathway, and two small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors-dovitinib and nintedanib-are currently in phase II clinical development for advanced prostate cancer. Preliminary results from these trials suggest that FGF pathway inhibition represents a promising new strategy to treat castrate-resistant disease.
Authors' Affiliations: The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; and Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Houston, Texas.
Paul G
PG
Corn
Fen
F
Wang
Wallace L
WL
McKeehan
Nora
N
Navone
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors