Cancer Science & Therapy

Treatment of Infiltrative Basal Cell Carcinomas by inhibiting the Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF)-Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (STAT)-3 Signalling Pathways

Abstract

Pedro Cuevas, Javier Angulo, Adrián Cuevas-Bourdier, Irene Salgüero and Guillermo Giménez-Gallego

Over-expression of FGF/STAT-3 signalling pathways or aberrant regulation of their activities has been implicated in many forms of human malignancies, including skin neoplasms. Therefore, targeting FGF/STAT-3 signalling pathways represents an attractive strategy for development of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) treatment by simultaneously inhibiting tumor cell growth and survival, and also tumor angiogenesis. Here, we describe the efficacy of a safe, potent and selective FGF inhibitor –dobesilate- in BCC patients. Anti-tumor effect of dobesilate correlates with promotion of apoptosis, and inhibition of both cell proliferation and angiogenesis. Our data support dobesilate as an agent for chemoprevention and therapy of skin cancers by inhibiting FGF/STAT-3 oncogenic signalling axis.