Research Progress on Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptors in Cancer and Antitumor Targeting Drugs

Fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) belong to a large superfamily of receptor tyrosine kinases. FGFR signaling participates in key cellular activities such as cell proliferation, differentiation and survival, and plays crucial roles in multiple physiological processes during embryonic development, adult tissue repair and metabolic regulation. Dysregulation of FGFR caused by gene amplification, gene mutation and gene fusion has also been implicated in many types of human cancers. Therefore, FGFR has become a promising potential target in cancer treatment. Currently, substantial progress has been made in the research and application of targeting drugs for FGFR, some of which have been approved for clinical treatment or are under clinical trials. Collectively, the FGFR family members, its abnormal expression in tumors, and the development of drugs targeting FGFR are summarized in the present article.