Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 16, 2026

Optimized Protocol for Generating Functional Pancreatic Insulin-secreting Cells from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells
06:33

Optimized Protocol for Generating Functional Pancreatic Insulin-secreting Cells from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

Published on: February 2, 2024

Targeting insulin-like growth factor pathways

D Yee1

  • 1University of Minnesota Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. yeexx006@umn.edu

British Journal of Cancer
|March 30, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Targeting specific molecules, like the type I IGF receptor (IGF-IR), offers promising cancer therapy. Early clinical trials for IGF-IR targeting agents require careful consideration of several key issues.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Drug Development

Background:

  • Cancer cell proliferation, survival, and metastasis are often driven by specific molecular pathways.
  • Targeted therapies, such as tamoxifen and trastuzumab in breast cancer, have revolutionized cancer treatment.
  • The type I IGF receptor (IGF-IR) pathway is implicated in various cancers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the type I IGF receptor (IGF-IR) as a potential molecular target for novel cancer therapies.
  • To identify critical issues that need to be addressed in early clinical trials for IGF-IR targeting agents.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing research on IGF-IR in cancer.
  • Analysis of successful targeted therapies to inform future strategies.
  • Discussion of challenges and considerations for clinical development of IGF-IR inhibitors.

Main Results:

  • The IGF-IR pathway plays a significant role in cancer progression and is a validated target.
  • Successful examples of targeted cancer therapies highlight the potential of molecular targeting.
  • Several unresolved issues exist regarding the optimal clinical application of IGF-IR targeting drugs.

Conclusions:

  • The type I IGF receptor (IGF-IR) represents a promising target for developing new anti-cancer drugs.
  • Careful planning and addressing specific challenges in early clinical trials are crucial for the success of IGF-IR targeting therapies.

Related Concept Videos

Insulin: The Receptor and Signaling Pathways01:28

Insulin: The Receptor and Signaling Pathways

Insulin action is mediated through a receptor tyrosine kinase, akin to the IGF-1 receptor. The number of receptors per cell varies significantly, from 40 on erythrocytes to 300,000 on adipocytes and hepatocytes. The insulin receptor consists of linked α/β subunit dimers, forming a heterotetramer glycoprotein with two extracellular α subunits and two β subunits spanning the membrane. The α subunits inhibit the inherent tyrosine kinase activity of the β subunits, but this inhibition is released...
PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway01:22

PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway

The mammalian target of rapamycin  (mTOR) is a serine/threonine kinase that regulates growth, proliferation, and cell survival in response to hormones, growth factors, or nutrient availability. This kinase exists in two structurally and functionally distinct forms: mTOR complex 1  (mTORC1) and mTOR complex 2  (mTORC2). The first form (mTORC1) is composed of a rapamycin-sensitive Raptor and proline-rich Akt substrate, PRAS40. In contrast,  mTORC2 consists of a rapamycin-insensitive companion...
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
Transducer Mechanism: Enzyme-Linked Receptors01:27

Transducer Mechanism: Enzyme-Linked Receptors

Enzyme-linked receptors are cell-surface receptors acting as an enzyme or associating with an enzyme intracellularly. They make excellent drug targets. Drugs can bind to the extracellular ligand-binding domain or directly affect their enzymatic domain and alter their activity.
Major types that are helpful drug targets include:
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle02:38

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...