Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Genome-Wide CRISPR Screen for Unveiling Radiosensitive and Radioresistant Genes
08:32

Genome-Wide CRISPR Screen for Unveiling Radiosensitive and Radioresistant Genes

Published on: May 23, 2025

Radiation and new molecular agents, part II: targeting HDAC, HSP90, IGF-1R, PI3K, and Ras

Prakash Chinnaiyan1, Gregory W Allen, Paul M Harari

  • 1Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, 53792-0600, USA.

Seminars in Radiation Oncology
|December 28, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Novel cancer therapies targeting molecular pathways show promise, especially when combined with radiation therapy. Multi-pathway inhibitors offer a potential strategy to overcome resistance and improve patient outcomes in cancer treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Therapeutics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Research focuses on novel molecularly targeted agents for cancer treatment.
  • These agents are often most effective when combined with conventional therapies like radiation.
  • Understanding radiation resistance pathways informs combination strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current and emerging targeted therapy approaches for cancer treatment.
  • To discuss the rationale and potential of combining targeted agents with radiation therapy.
  • To highlight the promise of multi-pathway inhibition for enhancing radiation efficacy.

Main Methods:

  • Review of preclinical and clinical data on targeted cancer therapies.
  • Analysis of single-pathway inhibitors (e.g., EGFR, PI3K) in combination with radiation.
  • Exploration of multi-pathway inhibitors (e.g., HDAC, HSP90) as emerging strategies.

Main Results:

  • Single-target inhibition strategies have shown promise but face limitations like tumor heterogeneity.
  • Multi-pathway targeted therapies, including combinations or broad-spectrum agents, are emerging.
  • These advanced approaches offer potential for improved radiation therapy response.

Conclusions:

  • Combining targeted agents with radiation therapy is a promising strategy in oncology.
  • Multipathway-targeted therapies may overcome limitations of single-target approaches.
  • These novel therapeutic strategies hold potential for improving patient outcomes in cancer care.

More Related Videos

Testing Targeted Therapies in Cancer using Structural DNA Alteration Analysis and Patient-Derived Xenografts10:27

Testing Targeted Therapies in Cancer using Structural DNA Alteration Analysis and Patient-Derived Xenografts

Published on: July 25, 2020

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...
Abnormal Proliferation02:23

Abnormal Proliferation

Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the daughter...
PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway01:22

PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway

The mammalian target of rapamycin  (mTOR) is a serine/threonine kinase that regulates growth, proliferation, and cell survival in response to hormones, growth factors, or nutrient availability. This kinase exists in two structurally and functionally distinct forms: mTOR complex 1  (mTORC1) and mTOR complex 2  (mTORC2). The first form (mTORC1) is composed of a rapamycin-sensitive Raptor and proline-rich Akt substrate, PRAS40. In contrast,  mTORC2 consists of a rapamycin-insensitive companion...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes01:05

Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes

Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
Small GTPases - Ras and Rho01:24

Small GTPases - Ras and Rho

Ras and Rho are small monomeric GTPases that act downstream of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) and regulate various cellular processes. These GTPases switch between active and inactive states by binding to guanine nucleotides.
Three regulatory proteins control their activity: