The Emerging Role of the Insulin-Like Growth Factor Pathway as a Therapeutic Target in Cancer

Learning Objectives After completing this course, the reader will be able to: Discuss the characteristics of the IGF system including its endocrine as well as tissue growth factor properties.Discuss the preclinical background and the rationale for targeting the IGF system in cancer therapy.Discuss ongoing phase I and phase II clinical trials targeting the IGF-IR in solid tumor malignancies. CME Access and take the CME test online and receive 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ at CME.TheOncologist.com The insulin-like growth factor signaling pathway is important in many human cancers based on data from experimental models as well as epidemiological studies. Important therapies targeted at this pathway have been or are being developed, including monoclonal antibodies to the insulin-like growth factor-I receptor and small molecule inhibitors of the tyrosine kinase function of this receptor. These investigational therapies are now being studied in clinical trials. Emerging data from phase I trials are encouraging regarding the safety of the monoclonal antibodies. In this manuscript, the rationale for targeting the insulin-like growth factor system is reviewed in addition to a summary of the available clinical trial data.