Safety profile of new anticancer drugs

The development of targeted anticancer therapies stems from advances in molecular biology. New agents range from antibodies that form complexes with antigens on the surface of the cancer cell to small molecules that have been engineered to block key enzymatic reactions. The interaction of the antibody or drug with its target inhibits key pathways involved in cell proliferation or metastasis, or activates pathways leading to cell death. Such pathways constitute ideal pharmacological targets. Clinical benefits from these novel therapeutic strategies are striking for patients with metastatic diseases.

This review analyses the main toxicities among most common targeted therapies that have been approved by the FDA or European Medicines Agency for their clinical utilisation in solid tumours treatment.

Here, the main toxicity and safety data among new anticancer targeted therapies are described. Data are organised through the pathways targeted by the drugs.

The emergence of new targeted anticancer therapies promises more efficient and less toxic therapies. Generally, they are well tolerated, toxicities are commonly mild to moderate and can be handled rapidly. However, if most of these adverse events are manageable, life threatening and fatal complications can still occur.