Cilengitide, integrin antagonist and antitumor drug under development
| Author : Pierre Allain |
Date : 2010-1-24 |
Cilengitide is a synthetic, low molecular weight cyclic pentapeptide, which inhibits integrins, in particular the integrins alpha V beta 3,5,6 involved in tumor angiogenesis. Cilengitide is under development as antineoplastic and clinical trials, in particular in glioblastoma, invasive brain tumor, are in progress.
Integrins are transmembrane, heterodimeric proteins with an alpha subunit and a beta subunit, involved in adherence of cells to the extracellular-matrix and in signal transduction via FAK, Src and others.
On the clinical level, in cancer treatment, progress (mortality, survival time) given by the new molecules is often modest and it is necessary to await the results of clinical trial in progress to have a better idea about the interest of cilengitide which is not currently available.
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