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Updated: Jul 8, 2026

Designing Porous Silicon Films as Carriers of Nerve Growth Factor
Published on: January 25, 2019
Nerve growth factor is a potential therapeutic target in breast cancer
Eric Adriaenssens1, Elsa Vanhecke, Pasquine Saule
1INSERM U908, Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale, University Lille 1, Lille, France.
Abstract:
We show here that nerve growth factor (NGF), the prototypic neurotrophin, can be targeted in breast cancer to inhibit tumor cell proliferation, survival, and metastasis. Analysis of a series of biopsies revealed widespread expression of NGF in the majority of human breast tumors, with anti-NGF immunoreactivity concentrated in the epithelial cancer cells. Moreover, immunodeficient mice xenografted with human breast cancer cells and treated with either anti-NGF antibodies or small interfering RNA against NGF displayed inhibited tumor growth and metastasis. Such treatments directed against NGF induced a decrease in cell proliferation with a concomitant increase in apoptosis of breast cancer cells and an inhibition of tumor angiogenesis. Together, these data indicate that targeting NGF in breast cancer may have therapeutic ramifications.
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Neurotrophin (NT) receptors are a family of RTKs, including trkA, trkB, and trkC (tropomyosin-related kinase) receptors. TrkA is specific for nerve growth factor (NGF), neurotrophin-6, and neurotrophin-7. TrkB binds...
