Roles of discoidin domain receptor 1 in gastrointestinal tumors

Discoidin domain receptors (DDRs) are receptor tyrosine kinases that recognize collagens as their ligands and are expressed in both epithelium and mesenchyme cells. DDR1 and DDR2 are two unique members of the DDRs family. Recent studies have demonstrated that DDR1 is closely associated with the proliferation, invasion, immigration, and epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) of solid tumor cells. Inhibiting the DDR1 activity can effectively suppress tumor growth by activating a variety of factors and signaling pathways. Novel selective DDR1 inhibitors may be promising strategies for cancer treatment. This article reviews the roles of DDR1 in gastrointestinal tumors.