Current understanding of the role of insulin-like and vascular endothelial growth factors in development, prognosis and targeted therapy in patients with ovarian cancer

Abstract

The system of the insulin-like growth factors (IGF) through its mitogenic and antiapoptotic effects plays an important role in carcinogenesis. IGF with interaction with own receptor activates Ras - and Akt-signaling pathways that lead to enhanced cell proliferation and reduction of apoptosis. Via stimulation of proangiogenic factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), IGF also mediates processes of neoangiogenesis that are necessary for the development, progression and metastasis of malignant tumors. Recent data show a linkage between IGF, VEGF and ovarian cancer. New drugs of targeted therapy for patients with ovarian adenocarcinoma, that inhibit the components of IGF and VEGF families, are under experimental and clinical trials. This review presents the results of investigations of IGF′ and VEGF′ role in the development, prognosis and treatment of patients with ovarian cancer.

Keywords

• ovarian cancer
• insulin-like growth factor
• vascular endothelial growth factor
• prognosis
• targeted therapy