Background
The insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF1R) is a transmembrane tyrosine kinase involved in several biological processes including cell proliferation, differentiation, DNA repair, and cell survival. This a disulfide-linked heterotetrameric transmembrane protein consisting of two α and two β subunits, and among which, the α subunit is extracellular while the β subunit has an extracellular domain, a transmembrane domain and a cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase domain. The IGF-I receptor is highly expressed in all cell types and tissues. Essentially all of the biological activities of IGF-I and II have been shown to be mediated via IGF-I R. IGF1R is an important signaling molecule in cancer cells and plays an essential role in the establishment and maintenance of the transformed phenotype. Inhibition of IGF1R signaling thus appears to be a promising strategy to interfere with the growth and survival of cancer cells, is now an attractive anti-cancer treatment target.
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