Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Development and Maintenance of a Preclinical Patient Derived Tumor Xenograft Model for the Investigation of Novel Anti-Cancer Therapies
09:29

Development and Maintenance of a Preclinical Patient Derived Tumor Xenograft Model for the Investigation of Novel Anti-Cancer Therapies

Published on: September 30, 2016

Drug development in advanced colorectal cancer: challenges and opportunities

Robin Kelley1, Alan P Venook

  • 1University of California, San Francisco, 1600 Divisadero Street, Box 1705, San Francisco, CA 94115, USA.

Current Oncology Reports
|April 2, 2009
PubMed

Insights

New strategies are needed to accelerate drug development for advanced colorectal cancer (ACC). Innovations in clinical trial design can optimize testing of novel therapies for this challenging disease.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Clinical Research
  • Drug Development

Background:

  • Advanced colorectal cancer (ACC) has a poor prognosis despite recent treatment advances.
  • Drug development for ACC is hindered by a limited pipeline, low clinical trial enrollment, and a "one drug fits all" approach.
  • There is a critical need for improved therapeutic strategies and optimized clinical trial designs in ACC.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To discuss innovations in clinical trial design for advanced colorectal cancer.
  • To explore strategies for optimizing the testing of new therapies in ACC.
  • To highlight promising agents and pathways currently under investigation for ACC.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current challenges in ACC drug development.
  • Discussion of potential innovations in clinical trial design, including enrichment strategies.
  • Exploration of novel patient populations and the use of phase 2 randomization.

Main Results:

  • Identified limitations in current ACC clinical trial methodologies.
  • Proposed innovative approaches to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of testing new ACC therapies.
  • Highlighted the potential of specific agents and pathways in ACC treatment.

Conclusions:

  • Innovative clinical trial designs are essential to overcome ACC drug development hurdles.
  • Optimized trial strategies can accelerate the delivery of effective new therapies to ACC patients.
  • Several promising agents and pathways warrant further investigation for advanced colorectal cancer treatment.

More Related Videos

Subcutaneous Injection of Human Colorectal Cancer Cells in Athymic Nude Mice to Evaluate Antitumor Efficacy06:35

Subcutaneous Injection of Human Colorectal Cancer Cells in Athymic Nude Mice to Evaluate Antitumor Efficacy

Published on: July 8, 2025

Orthotopic Implantation of Patient-Derived Cancer Cells in Mice Recapitulates Advanced Colorectal Cancer06:49

Orthotopic Implantation of Patient-Derived Cancer Cells in Mice Recapitulates Advanced Colorectal Cancer

Published on: February 10, 2023

Related Concept Videos

Treatment Resistant Cancers02:56

Treatment Resistant Cancers

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. A cancer cell is genetically unstable and hence can mutate faster. They can also modify their microenvironment and escape immune surveillance. The difficulties in treating cancer are further compounded by the emergence of rapid resistance to anticancer drugs. The most common ways to attain resistance in cancer cells include alteration in drug transport and metabolism, modification of drug target, elevated DNA damage response, or...
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...
Treatment Resistent Cancers02:56

Treatment Resistent Cancers

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. A cancer cell is genetically unstable and hence can mutate faster. They can also modify their microenvironment and escape immune surveillance. The difficulties in treating cancer are further compounded by the emergence of rapid resistance to anticancer drugs. The most common ways to attain resistance in cancer cells include alteration in drug transport and metabolism, modification of drug target, elevated DNA damage response, or...
Drugs for Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis in IBD01:29

Drugs for Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis in IBD

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory condition primarily affecting the colon and rectum. The primary drugs used in the treatment of ulcerative colitis are aminosalicylates. They exhibit anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties. They modulate inflammatory mediators and inhibit the activity of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB). Aminosalicylates also reduce inflammation by inhibiting prostaglandin and leukotriene production and decreasing neutrophil chemotaxis and superoxide generation. 
Preclinical Development: Overview01:28

Preclinical Development: Overview

Preclinical development consists of a series of tests that ensure the safety and efficacy of a new therapeutic compound before it is tested in humans. There are four main phases to this process. First, safety pharmacology tests are conducted to ensure the drug does not produce any acutely harmful effects. These tests examine parameters such as bronchoconstriction, cardiac dysrhythmias, blood pressure changes, and ataxia. Next, preliminary toxicological testing is performed to determine the...