Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) ligands and their receptors (PDGFRα and PDGFRβ) regulate mesenchymal cells, such as fibroblasts and pericytes. These cells are important constituents of tumor stroma where they impact on tumor growth, metastasis and drug response.

Studies in model systems have demonstrated ability of the PDGF system to regulate the tumor-stimulatory effects of fibroblasts, as well as their ability to promote cancer cell migration and invasion. Animal studies imply PDGFR-signaling as a regulator of tumor drug uptake.

Emerging correlative analyses of different tumor collections are identifying clinically relevant variations in stromal PDGFR status, and associations between PDGFR status in tumor stroma and survival. These associations could either relate to effects of stromal PDGFR signaling on the natural course of the disease or response to treatment.

The availability of clinically approved PDGFR-inhibitory drugs suggest interesting possibilities for novel clinical studies, performed on selected patient sub-groups, which further exploits tumor stroma-derived PDGFR signaling.

血小板衍生的生长因子（PDGF）配体及其受体（PDGFRα和PDGFRβ）调节间质细胞，例如成纤维细胞和周细胞。这些细胞是肿瘤基质的重要组成部分，它们会影响肿瘤的生长，转移和药物反应。

在模型系统中的研究表明，PDGF系统调节成纤维细胞的肿瘤刺激作用的能力，以及它们促进癌细胞迁移和侵袭的能力。动物研究表明，PDGFR信号可作为肿瘤药物摄取的调节剂。

对不同肿瘤集合的新兴相关分析正在鉴定基质PDGFR状态的临床相关变化，以及肿瘤基质中PDGFR状态与存活之间的关联。这些关联可能与基质PDGFR信号转导对疾病自然进程的影响或对治疗的反应有关。

临床认可的PDGFR抑制药物的可用性为在选定的患者亚组上进行的新型临床研究提供了有趣的可能性，该研究进一步利用了肿瘤基质衍生的PDGFR信号传导。