Challenges and opportunities in the targeting of fibroblast growth factor receptors in breast cancer

Breast Cancer Res. 2012 Jun 19;14(3):208. doi: 10.1186/bcr3139.

Abstract

Activation of the fibroblast growth factor receptor pathway is a common event in many cancer types. Here we review the role of fibroblast growth factor receptor signalling in breast cancer, from SNPs in FGFR2 that influence breast cancer risk and SNPs in FGFR4 that associate with breast cancer prognosis, and potential therapeutic targets such as receptor amplification and aberrant autocrine and paracrine ligand expression. We discuss the multiple therapeutic strategies in preclinical and clinical development and the current and future challenges to successfully targeting this pathway in cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Breast Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Female
  • Gene Amplification
  • Humans
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Prognosis
  • Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1 / genetics
  • Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1 / metabolism
  • Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 2 / genetics
  • Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 3 / genetics
  • Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 3 / metabolism
  • Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 4 / genetics
  • Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor / genetics*
  • Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor
  • FGFR1 protein, human
  • FGFR2 protein, human
  • FGFR3 protein, human
  • FGFR4 protein, human
  • Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1
  • Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 2
  • Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 3
  • Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 4