Review

Nature Reviews Cancer 5, 505-515 (July 2005) | doi:10.1038/nrc1647

The role of focal-adhesion kinase in cancer — a new therapeutic opportunity

Gordon W. McLean1, Neil O. Carragher1, Egle Avizienyte1, Jeff Evans1  About the authors, Valerie G. Brunton1 & Margaret C. Frame1

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Focal-adhesion kinase (FAK) is an important mediator of growth-factor signalling, cell proliferation, cell survival and cell migration. Given that the development of malignancy is often associated with perturbations in these processes, it is not surprising that FAK activity is altered in cancer cells. Mouse models have shown that FAK is involved in tumour formation and progression, and other studies showing that FAK expression is increased in human tumours make FAK a potentially important new therapeutic target.

Author affiliations

  1. The Beatson Institute for Cancer Research, Cancer Research UK Beatson Laboratories, Garscube Estate Switchback Road, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 1BD, United Kingdom.

Correspondence to: Margaret C. Frame1 Email: m.frame@beatson.gla.ac.uk

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