Growth factor receptor inhibitors (''growth factor inhibitors, growth factor receptor blockers, growth factor blockers, growth factor receptor antagonists, growth factor antagonists'') are
drugs
A drug is any chemical substance that causes a change in an organism's physiology or psychology when consumed. Drugs are typically distinguished from food and substances that provide nutritional support. Consumption of drugs can be via inhalat ...
that target the
growth factor receptor
A growth factor receptor is a receptor that binds to a growth factor. Growth factor receptors are the first stop in cells where the signaling cascade for cell differentiation and proliferation begins. Growth factors, which are ligands that bind to ...
s of cells. They interfere with binding of the
growth factor
A growth factor is a naturally occurring substance capable of stimulating cell proliferation, wound healing, and occasionally cellular differentiation. Usually it is a secreted protein or a steroid hormone. Growth factors are important for regu ...
to the corresponding growth factor receptors, impeding cell growth and are used medically to treat cancer.
Cancer growth blockers
', Cancer Research UK
Status of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Antagonists in the Biology and Treatment of Cancer
', Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Drugs of this type include those that target the
epidermal growth factor receptor
The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR; ErbB-1; HER1 in humans) is a transmembrane protein that is a receptor for members of the epidermal growth factor family (EGF family) of extracellular protein ligands.
The epidermal growth factor recept ...
s of
epidermal cells
The epidermis is the outermost of the three layers that comprise the skin, the inner layers being the dermis and hypodermis. The epidermis layer provides a barrier to infection from environmental pathogens and regulates the amount of water relea ...
(
EGFR inhibitor
The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR; ErbB-1; HER1 in humans) is a transmembrane protein that is a receptor for members of the epidermal growth factor family (EGF family) of extracellular protein ligands.
The epidermal growth factor recep ...
s)
and those that target
vascular endothelial growth factor receptors
VEGF receptors are biochemical receptors, receptors for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). There are three main subtypes of VEGFR, numbered 1, 2 and 3. Also, they may be membrane-bound (mbVEGFR) or soluble (sVEGFR), depending on alte ...
(
VEGFR inhibitors).
Growth factor receptor inhibitors in cancer treatment and research
In
cancer treatment
Cancer can be treated by surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy, targeted therapy (including immunotherapy such as monoclonal antibody therapy) and synthetic lethality, most commonly as a series of separate treatments (e.g. ...
, growth factor receptor inhibitors have been used to target cancer cells.
In
cancer research
Cancer research is research into cancer to identify causes and develop strategies for prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure.
Cancer research ranges from epidemiology, molecular bioscience to the performance of clinical trials to evaluate and ...
, growth factor receptor inhibitors have been applied to protect normal cells selectively from the toxic side-effects of
chemotherapy
Chemotherapy (often abbreviated to chemo and sometimes CTX or CTx) is a type of cancer treatment that uses one or more anti-cancer drugs (chemotherapeutic agents or alkylating agents) as part of a standardized chemotherapy regimen. Chemotherap ...
targeted against cancer cells.
References
Further reading
*
External links
Growth Factor Plus Reviewsat the todayhealthplan.com website
at the Drugs.com website.
at the Drugs.com website.
at the Drugs.com website.
Cancer growth blockersat the Cancer Research UK website.
Status of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Antagonists in the Biology and Treatment of Cancerat the Journal of Clinical Oncology website.
Exploiting Cancer Cell Cycling for Selective Protection of Normal Cellsat the Cancer Research (Journal) website.
{{Growth factor receptor modulators
Tyrosine kinase inhibitors
Receptor antagonists
Growth factors