Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 17, 2026

Analyzing Tumor and Tissue Distribution of Target Antigen Specific Therapeutic Antibody
07:36

Analyzing Tumor and Tissue Distribution of Target Antigen Specific Therapeutic Antibody

Published on: May 16, 2020

[New anti-cancer agents--from cytotoxic systemic chemotherapy to target-based agents]

Masanori Yokoba1, Nobuo Yanase, Noriyuki Masuda

  • 1Dept. of Respiratory Medicine, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Japan.

Gan to Kagaku Ryoho. Cancer & Chemotherapy
|June 30, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Lung cancer treatment faces an efficacy plateau with current chemotherapy. Novel molecular targeted therapies offer new hope for improved survival and quality of life in non-small cell lung cancer patients.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Lung cancer remains a leading cause of cancer mortality globally.
  • Traditional cytotoxic chemotherapy, including platinum-based doublets, has reached its efficacy limit for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
  • There is a critical need for novel, less toxic therapies to improve patient survival and quality of life.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current status of cytotoxic agents in lung cancer treatment.
  • To explore the potential of molecular targeted therapy in managing lung cancer.
  • To discuss novel therapeutic strategies for non-small cell lung cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing clinical research on lung cancer chemotherapy.
  • Analysis of advancements in understanding cancer molecular biology and signaling pathways.
  • Evaluation of the efficacy and application of molecular targeted agents, particularly EGFR inhibitors.

Main Results:

  • Cytotoxic agents like irinotecan and paclitaxel showed initial promise but have plateaued in efficacy.
  • Modern platinum-based doublets are the standard for advanced NSCLC but offer limited further improvement.
  • Molecular targeted therapies, such as epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors, represent a new era in NSCLC treatment.

Conclusions:

  • Current chemotherapy regimens for lung cancer have reached an efficacy plateau.
  • Understanding cancer's molecular biology has paved the way for targeted therapies.
  • Molecular targeted agents hold significant promise for improving outcomes in non-small cell lung cancer patients.

More Related Videos

Potentiation of Anticancer Antibody Efficacy by Antineoplastic Drugs: Detection of Antibody-drug Synergism Using the Combination Index Equation15:04

Potentiation of Anticancer Antibody Efficacy by Antineoplastic Drugs: Detection of Antibody-drug Synergism Using the Combination Index Equation

Published on: January 19, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Tumor Immunotherapy01:27

Tumor Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine02:50

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
Cancer Vaccines01:30

Cancer Vaccines

Cancer treatment vaccines are a rapidly evolving field that offers a promising approach to immunotherapy. Unlike traditional vaccines that prevent diseases, cancer treatment vaccines are designed to treat existing cancers by stimulating the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells.
Cancer vaccines come in two categories: preventive (prophylactic) and treatment (active). Preventive vaccines, such as the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, protect against viruses that cause certain...
Cancer Therapies02:49

Cancer Therapies

Cancer therapies are various modes of treatment, such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy that are administered to cancer patients.
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...