title: Targeting the PDGF signaling pathway in tumor treatment.
abstract: Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) isoforms and PDGF receptors have important functions in the regulation of growth and survival of certain cell types during embryonal development and e.g. tissue repair in the adult. Overactivity of PDGF receptor signaling, by overexpression or mutational events, may drive tumor cell growth. In addition, pericytes of the vasculature and fibroblasts and myofibroblasts of the stroma of solid tumors express PDGF receptors, and PDGF stimulation of such cells promotes tumorigenesis. Inhibition of PDGF receptor signaling has proven to useful for the treatment of patients with certain rare tumors. Whether treatment with PDGF/PDGF receptor antagonists will be beneficial for more common malignancies is the subject for ongoing studies.
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Science for life laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 595SE-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden. C-H.Heldin@LICR.uu.se.
authors.forename: Carl-Henrik
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Heldin
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D017479:Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D017479:Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor