β1 integrin as a molecular therapeutic target

Purpose: Radiation therapy ( RT) is a commonly used modality to treat human cancer. However, dose-limiting toxicity and resistance are major problems to improving treatment efficacy. Increasing evidence has pointed to the critical role of the tumor microenvironment and cell-extracellular matrix ( ECM), specifically via beta 1 integrins, in modifying response to therapy, including radiation. beta 1 integrins have been implicated in several key processes in malignant progression and metastasis, and more recently in mediating resistance to cytotoxic chemotherapy and radiation. Evidence is mounting that beta 1 integrins mediate essential survival signals post-IR, through both canonical and non-canonical integrin signaling pathways that make it a highly promising therapeutic target for several solid malignancies. Conclusions: In this mini-review article, we briefly summarize the most recent emerging findings concerning beta 1 integrin and radiation survival that indicate the promise of beta 1 integrin inhibitory agents as radiosensitizers.