title: Keratinocyte growth factor receptor: a therapeutic target in solid cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The treatment effects of advanced solid cancer are unsatisfactory, and novel therapeutic approaches are much needed. Keratinocyte growth factor receptor (KGFR) is a receptor tyrosine kinase that is primarily localized on epithelial cells. KGFR may play important roles in epithelial cell proliferation and differentiation, epithelial wound repair, embryonic development, immunity, tumor formation and development.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review summarizes the expression, function and mechanism of KGFR in solid cancer, and analyzes its value for the cancer therapy. Furthermore, this study discusses the limitations of KGFR-based therapy, and envisages future developments in the clinical applications of KGFR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  KGFR may function as an ideal therapeutic target for solid cancer. Continued basic investigation of KGFR-mediated pathways will push insight into the novel strategies of target therapy. More in vivo studies and clinical trials should be performed to promote the translational bridging of the latest research into clinical application.
authors.affiliation: a 1 Fourth Military Medical University, Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases , Xi'an 710032, Shaanxi Province, China +86 29 84771531 ; +86 29 82539041 ; hongliu180@126.com.
authors.forename: Liu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: b 2 Fourth Military Medical University, Xijing Hospital, Department of Otolaryngology , Xi'an 710032, Shaanxi Province, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: a 1 Fourth Military Medical University, Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases , Xi'an 710032, Shaanxi Province, China +86 29 84771531 ; +86 29 82539041 ; hongliu180@126.com.
authors.forename: Jinqiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: a 1 Fourth Military Medical University, Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases , Xi'an 710032, Shaanxi Province, China +86 29 84771531 ; +86 29 82539041 ; hongliu180@126.com.
authors.forename: Daiming
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000502:physiology; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D051497:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D051497:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 2; C065104:keratinocyte growth factor receptor
keywords: apoptosis; cancer; growth; keratinocyte growth factor; keratinocyte growth factor receptor; target; therapy