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| Home > Publications database > Context-specific targeting of focal adhesion kinase in brain tumors: lessons from glioblastoma and neurofibromatosis type 2-mutant meningioma. |
| Home > Publications database > Context-specific targeting of focal adhesion kinase in brain tumors: lessons from glioblastoma and neurofibromatosis type 2-mutant meningioma. |
| Journal Article (Review Article) | DKFZ-2026-00042 |
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2025
Frontiers Media
Lausanne
Abstract: Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) has long been explored as a therapeutic target in glioblastoma (GBM) based on its overexpression and involvement in invasive signaling. However, clinical trials have consistently failed to show benefit - highlighting a core principle of translational oncology: target presence alone does not imply therapeutic relevance. In contrast, neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2)-mutant meningiomas present a biologically grounded vulnerability, in which loss of the tumor suppressor moesin-ezrin-radixin-like protein (merlin) creates a synthetic lethal dependency on FAK. This context-specific dependency enables clinically meaningful targeting. Early-phase trials already show promising disease control with favorable safety profiles. This mini review examines the contrasting roles of FAK in GBM and NF2-mutant meningiomas to underscore the importance of biological context in therapeutic decisions. We propose that NF2-mutant meningiomas represent a model for context-specific, synthetic lethal targeting, exemplifying a functional oncogenomics approach to precision oncology.
Keyword(s): FAK inhibitor ; NF2-mutant meningioma ; focal adhesion kinase ; glioblastoma ; pFAK-Y397 ; precision oncology ; synthetic lethality
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