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Multitarget drugs: the present and the future of cancer therapy
Annalisa Petrelli1, Giorgio Valabrega
1University of Turin Medical School, Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (IRCC), Division of Molecular Oncology, Candiolo (Torino), Italy. annalisa.petrelli@ircc.it
Abstract:
Target therapies for the treatment of human cancers have revolutionized the concept of oncological medicine. This type of therapeutic approach is directed to the inhibition of molecular targets that play a pivotal role in tumor progression -- such as tyrosine kinase receptors (TKIs) controlling cell proliferation and survival -- mainly by means of compounds able to block their activity. In the beginning, the aim of target therapies was specifically to hit a single molecule expressed in neoplastic cells. Now the prevailing idea is that inhibiting both cancer cells and cells of the stroma supporting the tumor would gain better results in fighting the disease. Therefore, the single-target therapy is fading in favor of a multitarget approach and the new generation of TKIs is selected on the basis of their ability simultaneously to target different molecules. This review summarizes the molecular basis of multitarget therapies and the most relevant results obtained in different cancer types.
Insights
New cancer treatments, called multitarget therapies, block multiple molecules simultaneously. This approach is replacing single-target therapies for better results in fighting cancer by targeting both tumor and supporting cells.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Targeted cancer therapies inhibit molecular targets crucial for tumor progression, like tyrosine kinase receptors (TKIs).
- Early targeted therapies focused on single molecular targets within cancer cells.
- The current trend favors multitarget approaches, inhibiting both cancer cells and tumor-supporting stromal cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the molecular underpinnings of multitarget cancer therapies.
- To summarize key findings from multitarget therapy applications across various cancer types.
Main Methods:
- Review of scientific literature on multitarget therapies.
- Analysis of molecular mechanisms of novel tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs).
- Synthesis of clinical outcomes from multitarget therapy studies in different cancers.
Main Results:
- Multitarget therapies demonstrate potential for improved efficacy by simultaneously inhibiting multiple molecular targets.
- Newer generations of TKIs are designed for multitarget activity.
- Significant results have been observed in various cancer types utilizing multitarget strategies.
Conclusions:
- Multitarget therapies represent a significant advancement in oncological medicine.
- The shift from single-target to multitarget approaches is driven by the pursuit of enhanced therapeutic outcomes.
- Further research into multitarget therapies holds promise for revolutionizing cancer treatment.
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