Insulin-like Growth Factors and Cancer : From Basic Biology to Therapeutics

Insulin-like growth factors are ubiquitously expressed and are crucial for growth and function of almost all cells. Together with their binding proteins and receptors, they form a widely studied biological system involving many proteins and characterized by complex interactions. In addition to its significance in growth and development, the insulin-like growth factor system also has important roles in a wide variety of pathological states. This has led to interest in the therapeutic potential of insulin-like growth factors and their binding proteins as candidate drug targets. This comprehensive book contains current information on both basic science and clinical aspects of IGFs and their regulatory proteins, with emphasis on their relevance to cancer.