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Updated: Aug 21, 2026
Testing Targeted Therapies in Cancer using Structural DNA Alteration Analysis and Patient-Derived Xenografts
Published on: July 25, 2020
Targeted therapies for cancer 2004
Jeffrey S Ross1, David P Schenkein, Robert Pietrusko
1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Albany Medical College, NY 12208, USA.
Abstract:
The regulatory agency approvals in the United States and Europe of imatinib mesylate (Gleevec) for patients with bcr/abl-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia, cetuximab (Erbitux) for patients with epidermal growth factor receptor overexpressing metastatic colorectal cancer, the antiangiogenesis agent bevacizumab (Avastin), and the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib (Velcade)--and the considerable public interest in new anticancer drugs that take advantage of specific genetic defects that render the malignant cells more likely to respond to specific treatment--are driving a new era of integrated diagnostics and therapeutics. The recent discovery of a drug response predicting activating mutation in the epidermal growth factor receptor gene for patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with gefitinib (Iressa) has intensified this interest. In this review, the history of targeted anticancer therapies is highlighted, with focus on the development of molecular diagnostics for hematologic malignancies and the emergence of trastuzumab (Herceptin), an antibody-based targeted therapy for HER-2/neu overexpressing metastatic breast cancer: The potential of pharmacogenomic strategies and the use of high-density genomic microarrays to classify and select therapy for cancer are briefly considered. This review also considers the widely held view that, in the next 5 to 10 years, the clinical application of molecular diagnostics will further revolutionize the drug discovery and development process; customize the selection, dosing, route of administration of existing and new therapeutic agents; and truly personalize medical care for cancer patients.
Insights
Targeted cancer therapies and integrated diagnostics are revolutionizing oncology. Advances in molecular diagnostics and pharmacogenomics enable personalized cancer treatment and drug development.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Diagnostics
- Pharmacogenomics
Background:
- Recent approvals of targeted therapies like imatinib mesylate and cetuximab highlight a shift towards precision medicine in cancer treatment.
- The discovery of specific gene mutations predicting drug response, such as in non-small cell lung cancer treated with gefitinib, has accelerated interest in targeted anticancer drugs.
- The development of molecular diagnostics for hematologic malignancies and antibody-based therapies like trastuzumab for HER-2/neu overexpressing breast cancer exemplifies this progress.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the history and evolution of targeted anticancer therapies.
- To highlight the role of molecular diagnostics in classifying and selecting cancer treatments.
- To explore the potential of pharmacogenomic strategies and genomic microarrays in revolutionizing cancer care.
Main Methods:
- Historical review of targeted anticancer therapies and molecular diagnostics.
- Discussion of specific examples of targeted drugs and their diagnostic markers.
- Consideration of pharmacogenomic strategies and genomic microarray applications.
Main Results:
- The emergence of targeted therapies integrated with diagnostics is creating a new era in cancer treatment.
- Molecular diagnostics are crucial for identifying patients likely to respond to specific targeted therapies.
- Pharmacogenomic strategies and genomic microarrays show promise for classifying cancer and guiding therapy selection.
Conclusions:
- Targeted anticancer therapies, driven by molecular diagnostics, are transforming cancer treatment paradigms.
- The integration of diagnostics and therapeutics is personalizing cancer care and drug development.
- Future advancements in molecular diagnostics and pharmacogenomics are expected to further revolutionize cancer drug discovery and clinical application within the next decade.
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