Insulin-Like Growth Factor System in Cancer: Novel Targeted Therapies

Figure 8

Targeting IGFBPs, a novel strategy in cancer therapeutics. The cancer therapeutics targeting the IGF-signalling pathway focus on blocking IGF-1R, directly, and/or its downstream effect. Drawback of such approaches is the adverse side effects or toxicities due to its interference with the insulin pathway. The more efficacious alternatives, IGFBPs, as IGF-antagonist based cancer therapeutics also contribute to block the IGF-1R, mediated tumour progression. As IGFBPs do not bind insulin, they do not interfere with insulin-insulin receptor interactions.