Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Testing Targeted Therapies in Cancer using Structural DNA Alteration Analysis and Patient-Derived Xenografts
10:27

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

Published on: July 25, 2020

Linking somatic genetic alterations in cancer to therapeutics

Darrin Stuart1, William R Sellers

  • 1Oncology Disease Area, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Emeryville, CA 94608, USA. Darrin.Stuart@novartis.com

Current Opinion in Cell Biology
|March 31, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Targeted therapies are revolutionizing cancer treatment by exploiting specific genetic alterations. Identifying these mutations, like those in EGFR for lung cancer, guides effective drug selection for better patient outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Somatic genetic alterations are key drivers in human tumor evolution.
  • These alterations present significant opportunities for targeted therapeutic interventions.
  • Understanding tumor genetics is crucial for developing effective cancer treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review successful examples of coupling somatic genetic alterations with targeted agents.
  • To highlight positive clinical outcomes achieved through precision oncology.
  • To explore the potential of targeted therapies in previously intractable cancers like melanoma.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature and clinical trial data.
  • Analysis of randomized clinical trials focusing on targeted therapies.
  • Examination of specific genetic mutations and their corresponding drug responses.

Main Results:

  • EGFR mutant lung tumors show high response rates to EGFR kinase inhibitors.
  • Tumors with wild-type EGFR show minimal response to these inhibitors.
  • Emerging data suggest similar targeted therapy efficacy in melanoma.

Conclusions:

  • Targeted therapies based on somatic genetic alterations are highly effective in specific cancer types.
  • Precision medicine, guided by genetic profiling, offers a promising therapeutic strategy.
  • This approach holds potential for treating challenging cancers like melanoma.

More Related Videos

Defining Gene Functions in Tumorigenesis by Ex vivo Ablation of Floxed Alleles in Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor Cells09:37

Defining Gene Functions in Tumorigenesis by Ex vivo Ablation of Floxed Alleles in Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor Cells

Published on: August 25, 2021

Detecting Somatic Genetic Alterations in Tumor Specimens by Exon Capture and Massively Parallel Sequencing11:02

Detecting Somatic Genetic Alterations in Tumor Specimens by Exon Capture and Massively Parallel Sequencing

Published on: October 18, 2013

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...
Cancer02:18

Cancer

Cancers arise due to mutations in genes involved in the regulation of cell division, which leads to unrestricted cell proliferation. Modern science and medicine have made great strides in the understanding and treatment of cancer, including eradicating cancer in some patients. However, there is still no cure for cancer. This is largely due to the fact that cancer is a large group of many diseases.
Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell02:21

Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell

Cancer arises from mutations in the critical genes that allow healthy cells to escape cell cycle regulation and acquire the ability to proliferate indefinitely. Though originating from a single mutation event in one of the originator cells, cancer progresses when the mutant cell lines continue to gain more and more mutations, and finally, become malignant. For example, chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) develops initially as a non-lethal increase in white blood cells, which progressively...
Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell02:21

Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell

Cancer arises from mutations in the critical genes that allow healthy cells to escape cell cycle regulation and acquire the ability to proliferate indefinitely. Though originating from a single mutation event in one of the originator cells, cancer progresses when the mutant cell lines continue to gain more and more mutations, and finally, become malignant. For example, chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) develops initially as a non-lethal increase in white blood cells, which progressively...
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...