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Targeted therapy in non-small cell lung cancer: myth or reality
1Division of Hematology and Oncology, Vanderbilt-Ingram Comprehensive Cancer Center, 777 Preston Research Building, 2220 Pierce Avenue, Nashville, TN 37232-6307, USA.
Abstract:
In oncology, the term 'targeted therapy' is used to describe drugs that target only the cancer cells and spare normal cells thereby reducing host toxicity while simultaneously increasing the eradication of cancer. Trastuzumab and imatinib are well known examples of successful targeted therapy. Newer agents like gefitinib and cetuximab offer hope that targeted therapy also may yield therapeutic benefit for such refractory malignancies as lung and colon cancers. One of many remaining challenges is to identify markers, molecular or clinical, that predict for responsiveness to a specific targeted therapy (e.g. HER2/neu positivity and trastuzumab responsiveness). However, using emerging technologies such as gene or protein profiling, it may be possible to predict a tumor's responsiveness to a particular targeted therapy based on its molecular signature. If true, clinicians might then possess the ability to predict a tumor's clinical behavior and shape its density through specific, targeted interventions.
Insights
Targeted cancer therapies aim to destroy cancer cells while sparing normal cells. Identifying molecular markers may help predict which patients will respond to specific targeted drugs, improving treatment outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Targeted therapy in oncology offers improved cancer cell eradication and reduced toxicity compared to traditional treatments.
- Successful examples include trastuzumab and imatinib, with newer agents like gefitinib and cetuximab showing promise for refractory lung and colon cancers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the potential of molecular profiling for predicting patient response to targeted cancer therapies.
- To address the challenge of identifying predictive markers for specific targeted agents.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing targeted therapies and their mechanisms.
- Discussion of emerging technologies like gene and protein profiling for molecular signature analysis.
- Exploration of clinical and molecular markers for predicting treatment responsiveness.
Main Results:
- Trastuzumab and imatinib are established targeted therapies.
- Gefitinib and cetuximab represent newer agents for lung and colon cancers.
- Molecular profiling holds potential for predicting tumor responsiveness to targeted interventions.
Conclusions:
- Identifying predictive markers is crucial for optimizing targeted therapy efficacy.
- Gene and protein profiling may enable personalized treatment selection based on tumor molecular signatures.
- Future applications may allow clinicians to predict tumor behavior and tailor interventions for better outcomes.