Review
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World J Hepatol. Oct 27, 2014; 6(10): 716-737
Published online Oct 27, 2014. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v6.i10.716
Targeting the insulin-like growth factor pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma
Mónica Enguita-Germán, Puri Fortes
Mónica Enguita-Germán, Puri Fortes, Department of Hepatology and Gene Therapy, Center for Applied Medical Research, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
Author contributions: Enguita-Germán M and Fortes P wrote the paper.
Supported by Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion BIO2009/09295 and SAF2012-40003; FEDER funding, funds from the “UTE project CIMA”; the project RNAREG (CSD2009-00080); from The Ministryof Science and Innovation under the programme CONSOLIDER INGENIO 2010
Correspondence to: Dr. Puri Fortes, Department of Hepatology and Gene Therapy, Center for Applied Medical Research, Pio XII, 55, 31008 Pamplona, Spain. pfortes@unav.es.
Telephone: +34-948-194700 Fax: +34-948-194717
Received: May 29, 2014
Revised: July 14, 2014
Accepted: August 27, 2014
Published online: October 27, 2014
Processing time: 160 Days and 7.6 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: It is mandatory to develop alternative therapies for the successful treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). One of the key drivers of hepatocarcinogenesis is the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system. Therefore, several inhibitors of this pathway have been developed and their therapeutic potential is being tested in patients with HCC. However, recent studies suggest that IGF-II, a member of the pathway, may be more relevant for hepatocarcinogenesis than its close homologue IGF-I. The purpose of this review is to summarize these facts within a detailed description of the IGF axis and the alterations of the pathway that lead to HCC. The strategies designed to target the IGF-I signaling pathway for HCC treatment are also reviewed.