[Indications and current development of new targeted therapies in pediatric oncology]

Progresses performed in pediatric oncology during the last 30 years allowed to obtain about 70 to 80% healing rates. These progresses are the result of the optimization of the cytotoxic chemotherapies protocols used at standard and high doses, as well as the improvement of the local treatment. Most of the new anticancer treatments currently in developmental stage are based on targeted therapies, acting against numerous tumor cell abnormalities, like growth factors et their receptors, cell proliferation-inducing factors, molecules involved in DNA repair, cell death inducers, tumor invasion and angiogenesis. They are widely used in adult patients since 10 years and they are being more and more employed in children with cancer. The aim of this article is to review the main indications of these new targeted drugs in pediatric oncology and the new developments of these drugs.