Fibroblast growth factor signalling: from development to cancer

Nat Rev Cancer. 2010 Feb;10(2):116-29. doi: 10.1038/nrc2780.

Abstract

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) and their receptors control a wide range of biological functions, regulating cellular proliferation, survival, migration and differentiation. Although targeting FGF signalling as a cancer therapeutic target has lagged behind that of other receptor tyrosine kinases, there is now substantial evidence for the importance of FGF signalling in the pathogenesis of diverse tumour types, and clinical reagents that specifically target the FGFs or FGF receptors are being developed. Although FGF signalling can drive tumorigenesis, in different contexts FGF signalling can mediate tumour protective functions; the identification of the mechanisms that underlie these differential effects will be important to understand how FGF signalling can be most appropriately therapeutically targeted.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cell Proliferation
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors / genetics
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors / metabolism*
  • Gene Amplification
  • Humans
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Neoplasms / genetics
  • Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor / genetics
  • Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Translocation, Genetic

Substances

  • Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors