Effects of growth factors and receptor blockade on gastrointestinal cancer

Abstract

The advent of recombinant peptide technology offers the potential to use one or several peptides to treat a variety of gastrointestinal conditions. However, although cell culture and animal models have shown proof of concept, we are still at a relatively early stage in translating their use to standard clinical practice. Similarly, peptide and non-peptide antagonists of growth factor receptors show great potential as novel antichemotherapy agents. However, their actual place in clinical practice has yet to be established.

Figure 1

Potential value and concerns of growth factor agonists and antagonists. Endoscopic appearance of a colonic cancer in an area of pseudopolyposis resulting from longstanding ulcerative colitis. This patient did not receive growth factor or antagonist therapy. Growth factor agonists may be useful to treat several gastrointestinal disorders, such as inflammatory bowel disease. There is a concern however that this may subsequently increase the risk of malignant progression in the bowel or in distant sites if given systemically. In patients who develop gut malignancies, early studies suggest growth factor receptor blockade or tyrosine kinase inhibitors may prove clinically useful.