Front Oncol. 2013 Feb 04;3:9. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2013.00009. eCollection 2013.
Frontiers in oncology
Michael J Wagner, Robert G Maki
PMID: 23383402 PMCID: PMC3563098 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2013.00009
Data from over 20 years ago demonstrated potential use for insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling modulators, specifically with IGF-1R antagonists, in a variety of pediatric and adolescent cancers, particularly in sarcomas. However, in spite of promising preclinical data, IGF-1R inhibitors have not had the success as single agents that was originally hoped for in clinical trials. Several potential mechanisms exist by which tumors are resistant to IGF-1R inhibitors. Notably, these resistance mechanisms are currently best understood in Ewing sarcoma and alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. Various treatment schema have been proposed as a potential way to overcome this resistance. The use of IGF-1R inhibitors, mechanisms of resistance, and current ongoing clinical studies using IGF-1R inhibitors in pediatric cancers are reviewed here.
Keywords: IGF-1R; insulin-like growth factor pathway; pediatric cancer; resistance mechanisms; sarcoma