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Oncogenic signaling from the hematopoietic growth factor receptors c-Kit and Flt3.

Masson, Kristina LU and Rönnstrand, Lars LU orcid (2009) In Cellular Signalling 21. p.1717-1726
Abstract
Signal transduction in response to growth factors is a strictly controlled process with networks of feedback systems, highly selective interactions and finely tuned on-and-off switches. In the context of cancer, detailed signaling studies have resulted in the development of some of the most frequently used means of therapy, with several well established examples such as the small molecule inhibitors imatinib and dasatinib in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia. Impaired function of receptor tyrosine kinases is implicated in various types of tumors, and much effort is put into mapping the many interactions and downstream pathways. Here we discuss the hematopoietic growth factor receptors c-Kit and Flt3 and their downstream signaling... (More)
Signal transduction in response to growth factors is a strictly controlled process with networks of feedback systems, highly selective interactions and finely tuned on-and-off switches. In the context of cancer, detailed signaling studies have resulted in the development of some of the most frequently used means of therapy, with several well established examples such as the small molecule inhibitors imatinib and dasatinib in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia. Impaired function of receptor tyrosine kinases is implicated in various types of tumors, and much effort is put into mapping the many interactions and downstream pathways. Here we discuss the hematopoietic growth factor receptors c-Kit and Flt3 and their downstream signaling in normal as well as malignant cells. Both receptors are members of the same family of tyrosine kinases and crucial mediators of stem-and progenitor-cell proliferation and survival in response to ligand stimuli from the surrounding microenvironment. Gain-of-function mutations/alterations render the receptors constitutively and ligand-independently activated, resulting in aberrant signaling which is a crucial driving force in tumorigenesis. Frequently found mutations in c-Kit and Flt3 are point mutations of aspartic acid 816 and 835 respectively, in the activation loop of the kinase domains. Several other point mutations have been identified, but in the case of Flt3, the most common alterations are internal tandem duplications (ITDs) in the juxtamembrane region, reported in approximately 30% of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). During the last couple of years, the increasing understanding of c-Kit and Flt3 signaling has also revealed the complexity of these receptor systems. The impact of gain-of-function mutations of c-Kit and Flt3 in different malignancies is well established and shown to be of clinical relevance in both prognosis and therapy. Many inhibitors of both c-Kit or Flt3 or of their downstream substrates are in clinical trials with encouraging results, and targeted therapy using a combination of such inhibitors is considered a promising approach for future treatments. (Less)
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author
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Cellular Signalling
volume
21
pages
1717 - 1726
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • wos:000271269900001
  • pmid:19540337
  • scopus:70349934301
  • pmid:19540337
ISSN
1873-3913
DOI
10.1016/j.cellsig.2009.06.002
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Experimental Clinical Chemistry (013016010)
id
5fd864e7-b7fd-4d77-804a-5c7c617d4a52 (old id 1434088)
alternative location
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19540337?dopt=Abstract
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 08:39:24
date last changed
2022-03-07 21:56:11
@article{5fd864e7-b7fd-4d77-804a-5c7c617d4a52,
  abstract     = {{Signal transduction in response to growth factors is a strictly controlled process with networks of feedback systems, highly selective interactions and finely tuned on-and-off switches. In the context of cancer, detailed signaling studies have resulted in the development of some of the most frequently used means of therapy, with several well established examples such as the small molecule inhibitors imatinib and dasatinib in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia. Impaired function of receptor tyrosine kinases is implicated in various types of tumors, and much effort is put into mapping the many interactions and downstream pathways. Here we discuss the hematopoietic growth factor receptors c-Kit and Flt3 and their downstream signaling in normal as well as malignant cells. Both receptors are members of the same family of tyrosine kinases and crucial mediators of stem-and progenitor-cell proliferation and survival in response to ligand stimuli from the surrounding microenvironment. Gain-of-function mutations/alterations render the receptors constitutively and ligand-independently activated, resulting in aberrant signaling which is a crucial driving force in tumorigenesis. Frequently found mutations in c-Kit and Flt3 are point mutations of aspartic acid 816 and 835 respectively, in the activation loop of the kinase domains. Several other point mutations have been identified, but in the case of Flt3, the most common alterations are internal tandem duplications (ITDs) in the juxtamembrane region, reported in approximately 30% of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). During the last couple of years, the increasing understanding of c-Kit and Flt3 signaling has also revealed the complexity of these receptor systems. The impact of gain-of-function mutations of c-Kit and Flt3 in different malignancies is well established and shown to be of clinical relevance in both prognosis and therapy. Many inhibitors of both c-Kit or Flt3 or of their downstream substrates are in clinical trials with encouraging results, and targeted therapy using a combination of such inhibitors is considered a promising approach for future treatments.}},
  author       = {{Masson, Kristina and Rönnstrand, Lars}},
  issn         = {{1873-3913}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{1717--1726}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Cellular Signalling}},
  title        = {{Oncogenic signaling from the hematopoietic growth factor receptors c-Kit and Flt3.}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/5189982/1438941.pdf}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.cellsig.2009.06.002}},
  volume       = {{21}},
  year         = {{2009}},
}