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Targeted therapy in the treatment of solid tumors: practice contradicts theory

N V Zhukov1, S A Tjulandin

  • 1Federal Research-Clinical Center for Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Immunology, Ministry of Health Care and Social Security of the Russian Federation, Moscow 117997, Russia. zhukov.nikolay@rambler.ru

Biochemistry. Biokhimiia
|July 9, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Targeted therapy aims to attack cancer cells without harming normal tissues. However, many popular cancer drugs do not meet these specific goals, despite their claims.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Targeted therapy, developed a decade ago, focuses on drugs hitting cancer-specific targets.
  • Numerous novel antitumor agents claiming targeted action have emerged.
  • Some widely used solid tumor drugs (e.g., bevacizumab, trastuzumab) do not align with targeted therapy principles.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current state of targeted therapy for solid tumors.
  • To identify and discuss challenges and discrepancies in current targeted drug applications.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of targeted therapy principles and drug applications.
  • Analysis of clinical data and drug classifications for solid tumors.

Main Results:

  • The definition of targeted therapy is precise: drugs must target tumor-critical elements without harming normal tissues.
  • Several prominent drugs, including bevacizumab, trastuzumab, erlotinib, and gefitinib, are misclassified as truly targeted.
  • These drugs fail to meet the strict criteria of targeted therapy due to off-target effects or non-specific mechanisms.

Conclusions:

  • The current application of some "targeted" cancer drugs deviates from the fundamental principles of targeted therapy.
  • Re-evaluation of drug classification and adherence to targeted therapy goals is necessary for improved cancer treatment.
  • Further research is needed to develop genuinely targeted agents for solid tumors.

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