Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor-2 IIIc as a Novel Molecular Target in Colorectal Cancer

The prognosis of patients with colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is unfavorable once the disease has progressed to an unresectable stage. A high percentage of CRCs overexpress a number of growth factors and their receptors, including fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR). Expression of FGFR-2 IIIc, a splicing isoform of FGFR-2, correlated with distant metastasis and poor prognosis in CRC cases. FGFR-2 IIIc-transfected CRC cells showed increased cell growth, soft agar colony formation, migration, and invasion, as well as decreased adhesion to extracellular matrices. The administration of humanized anti-FGFR-2 IIIc monoclonal antibody inhibited CRC cell growth and migration. FGFR-2 IIIc might contribute to the aggressive growth of certain cancers, including CRC, and is a novel candidate for molecular targeted cancer therapies. In this article, we summarize the recent development of standardized treatments and molecular targeted therapies for CRC, with a focus on FGFR-2 IIIc.