Growth factors in lung cancer: possible etiologic role and clinical target

Growth factors play an important role in the pathogenesis and progression of all histologic types of lung cancer. Ideas for the exploitation of growth factors in lung cancer management are growing. The inhibition of the interaction between growth factors and their receptors, utilization of negative growth factors, interruption of the signal transduction pathways, or effecting decreased growth factor and/or receptor expression, could result in cell death, and all seem logical possibilities for new and specific treatment approaches. There can be no question that observations of the abnormal expression of growth factors have made a startling impact in every aspect of cancer research. The elucidation of their role in cell proliferation, coupled with our growing knowledge of the functions of oncogenes, has given birth to a unifying concept for the etiology of malignant transformation, which hopefully will translate into new, less toxic, more effective, and desperately needed lung cancer treatment.