Specific inhibition of the IGFR tyrosine kinase as a novel approach for targeted therapy in neuroendocrine gastrointestinal tumor disease

Abstract

Background & Aims: Gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors (NET) represent a heterogeneous tumor entity. The antineoplastic treatment options of advanced neuroendocrine cancer disease are unsatisfactory. Hence, innovative therapeutic approaches are urgently needed. As NET cells frequently express insulin-like growth factors and their receptors (IGFR) which are known to promote survival, oncogenic transformation and tumor growth and spread, the IGF/IGFR system qualifies for novel targeted treatment approaches in NET disease. Here, we studied the antineoplastic effects of an inhibition of IGF–1 receptor (IGF–1R) signaling in NET cells by a novel IGF–1R tyrosine kinase (TK) inhibitor.