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Updated: Aug 18, 2026

A Semi-Quantitative Drug Affinity Responsive Target Stability (DARTS) assay for studying Rapamycin/mTOR interaction
05:28

A Semi-Quantitative Drug Affinity Responsive Target Stability (DARTS) assay for studying Rapamycin/mTOR interaction

Published on: August 27, 2019

Mammalian target of rapamycin

Funda Meric-Bernstam1, Gordon B Mills

  • 1University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.

Seminars in Oncology
|April 1, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Targeted molecular therapies offer a promising, non-toxic approach to cancer treatment by targeting specific genetic abnormalities. Linking molecular diagnostics with these advanced therapeutics is crucial for effective individualized cancer care.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Targeted molecular therapeutics exploit genetic abnormalities driving cancer progression.
  • Modulating aberrant signaling pathways in cancer cells presents a potential non-toxic therapy.
  • Several targeted agents have shown remarkable responses in specific patient subsets.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review novel molecules targeting the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway.
  • To illustrate challenges in implementing molecular therapeutics for breast and ovarian cancers.
  • To emphasize the need for identifying specific aberrant pathway components for individualized therapy.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on targeted molecular therapeutics.
  • Focus on agents targeting BCR-ABL, retinoid receptors, HER2/neu, EGFR, and the PI3K pathway.
  • Discussion of molecular diagnostics, intermediary markers, and molecular imaging.

Main Results:

  • Targeted agents like imatinib, trastuzumab, and others have demonstrated efficacy in specific cancers.
  • Molecular diagnostics are essential for identifying patients with aberrant targets.
  • Intermediary markers and imaging are needed to determine biologically relevant drug doses.

Conclusions:

  • Successful individualized cancer therapy requires identifying specific aberrant signaling pathway drivers.
  • Integrating molecular diagnostics with molecular therapeutics is key to improving patient outcomes.
  • The PI3K pathway and its targeted agents are a focus for advancing breast and ovarian cancer treatment.

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