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Updated: Oct 5, 2025

Identifying PD-1/PD-L1 Inhibitors with Surface Plasmon Resonance Technology
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Targeting the PDGF/PDGFR signaling pathway for cancer therapy: A review

Xiang Zou1, Xi-Yu Tang1, Zhong-Yuan Qu2

  • 1Engineering Research Center of Natural Antineoplastic Drugs, Ministry of Education, Harbin University of Commerce, 150076, China.

International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
|January 25, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Targeting the Platelet-Derived Growth Factor (PDGF) and PDGF Receptor (PDGFR) signaling pathway offers a promising strategy for cancer therapy. This review details PDGF/PDGFR roles in cancer and highlights therapeutic inhibitors with clinical benefits and side effects.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs) and their receptors (PDGFRs) are implicated in various tumor types.
  • The PDGF/PDGFR signaling pathway promotes cancer proliferation, metastasis, invasion, and angiogenesis.
  • This pathway intersects with critical downstream signaling cascades like PI3K/Akt and MAPK/ERK.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review PDGF isoforms and their interactions with PDGFRs.
  • To elucidate PDGF/PDGFR signaling mechanisms and regulation in cancer.
  • To present therapeutic strategies and inhibitors targeting the PDGF/PDGFR pathway for cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of scientific publications on PDGF/PDGFR signaling in cancer.
  • Analysis of preclinical and clinical data on PDGF/PDGFR-targeted therapies.
  • Synthesis of information on cancer-related functions modulated by PDGF/PDGFR signaling.

Main Results:

  • PDGF/PDGFR signaling is a key driver of tumor growth and progression.
  • Various inhibitors targeting PDGF/PDGFR have been developed, showing clinical efficacy.
  • Understanding signaling nuances is crucial for optimizing therapeutic outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting the PDGF/PDGFR pathway is a validated approach in cancer therapy.
  • Ongoing research focuses on refining inhibitors and managing associated side effects.
  • Further investigation into PDGF/PDGFR regulation may reveal novel therapeutic avenues.
Keywords:
Clinical trialPDGF/PDGFR signalingPlatelet-derived growth factorSmall molecule inhibitorTumor therapy

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