Novel cancer therapies: targeting the molecules

Translational research is providing the means to develop a growing arsenal of targeted oncologic therapies (see Table 2, page 31). In practice, some of these drugs have completely changed the treatment pathway for common cancers. Many patients can be treated with greater efficacy and fewer side effects than traditional therapies allowed. Some patients with poor performance status have been able to undergo treatment when they would otherwise not have qualified for it. Some agents have not been shown to improve overall survival, but they do offer the possibility for improvement in quality of life. Although not miracle cures, these current targeted therapies offer proof of principle for scientists and hope for millions of patients.