Cell-Cell Adhesion and Insulin-Like Growth Factor I Receptor in Breast Cancer

摘要

This is a final report of the research carried out between 8/15/1997 and 8/14/2001. Our goal was to study the role of the insulin-like growth factor I receptor (IGF-IR) in breast cancer. The IGF-IR is a multifunctional tyrosine kinase that has been recently implicated in breast tumor development and progression. The IGF-IR is often overexpressed in estrogen receptor (ER)- positive breast tumors and this feature predicts enhanced tumor drug- and radio- resistance and cancer recurrence at the primary site. Our research demonstrated that the IGF-IR induces cell survival, growth and estrogen-independence in hormone-sensitive cells.