The insulin and insulin-like growth factor (IGF) pathway have been documented to play an important role in physiological and pathological biological processes including many types of cancer. Typically, the IGF family has several types of proteins, such as receptors (IGF1R, IGF2R, and IR), ligands (insulin, IGF1, IGF2), ligand-binding proteins (IGFBP1-6), and IGFBP-specific proteases. Increased expression of many components of the IGF family has been invoked in carcinogenesis. The IGF axis has been implicated in many oncogenic processes through activating PI3K/AKT, and MAPK pathways. Moreover, IGF1R has also been associated with cancer metastasis through interacting with the integrin pathway via FAK and RACK1. IGF1R appears to be an ideal therapeutic target in many cancers because it is a membrane protein and has receptor tyrosine kinase activity. Two principal types of inhibitors were initially used in trials: monoclonal antibodies IGF1R and small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors. However, outcomes in clinical trials were disappointing due to an overall infrequency of objective responses and a lack of predictable biomarkers. Thus, biomarkers should be identified to classify the patient response to anti-IGF treatment.
This Research Topic aims to uncover the new mechanisms of the IGF axis regulating the development of tumors from a clinical and/or molecular biological perspective.
We welcome submissions of Original Research, Review, and Mini Review on the sub-topics below:
1) Role of IGF axis in cancer carcinogenesis and metastasis.
2) The metabolic change induced by the IGF axis in cancer.
3) New pharmacological approaches to treat cancer by targeting the IGF axis.
4) Omics analysis of IGF axis in cancer.
The insulin and insulin-like growth factor (IGF) pathway have been documented to play an important role in physiological and pathological biological processes including many types of cancer. Typically, the IGF family has several types of proteins, such as receptors (IGF1R, IGF2R, and IR), ligands (insulin, IGF1, IGF2), ligand-binding proteins (IGFBP1-6), and IGFBP-specific proteases. Increased expression of many components of the IGF family has been invoked in carcinogenesis. The IGF axis has been implicated in many oncogenic processes through activating PI3K/AKT, and MAPK pathways. Moreover, IGF1R has also been associated with cancer metastasis through interacting with the integrin pathway via FAK and RACK1. IGF1R appears to be an ideal therapeutic target in many cancers because it is a membrane protein and has receptor tyrosine kinase activity. Two principal types of inhibitors were initially used in trials: monoclonal antibodies IGF1R and small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors. However, outcomes in clinical trials were disappointing due to an overall infrequency of objective responses and a lack of predictable biomarkers. Thus, biomarkers should be identified to classify the patient response to anti-IGF treatment.
This Research Topic aims to uncover the new mechanisms of the IGF axis regulating the development of tumors from a clinical and/or molecular biological perspective.
We welcome submissions of Original Research, Review, and Mini Review on the sub-topics below:
1) Role of IGF axis in cancer carcinogenesis and metastasis.
2) The metabolic change induced by the IGF axis in cancer.
3) New pharmacological approaches to treat cancer by targeting the IGF axis.
4) Omics analysis of IGF axis in cancer.
