[Targeted therapies in digestive oncology]
M-L Amram1, D A Benamran, A D Roth
1Service d'oncologie, Département de chirurgie HUG, 1211 Genève 14. Marie-Laure.Amram@hcuge.ch
Revue Medicale Suisse
|July 5, 2011
Summary
Targeted therapies, including those modulating EGF and VEGF pathways, offer new treatment options for advanced cancers. These targeted drugs improve survival rates and are well-tolerated, with future potential for refractory tumors.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Targeted therapies represent a novel class of anti-cancer drugs.
- These therapies interfere with specific intracellular signaling pathways crucial for cancer cell development.
- Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) pathways are key targets of current selective therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role and impact of targeted therapies in oncology.
- To highlight the efficacy of targeting EGF and VEGF pathways in advanced cancers.
- To discuss the future potential of targeted therapies in personalized cancer treatment.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on targeted therapies.
- Analysis of clinical outcomes associated with EGF and VEGF pathway modulation.
- Discussion of drug administration, tolerability, and future applications.
Main Results:
- Targeting EGF and VEGF pathways significantly improves overall survival and progression-free survival.
- Effective in treating advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, gastrointestinal stromal tumors, and hepatocellular carcinoma.
- Targeted therapies offer specific action sites, simple administration, and good tolerability.
Conclusions:
- Targeted therapies, particularly those modulating EGF and VEGF, are effective in improving outcomes for various advanced cancers.
- These therapies are well-tolerated and easy to administer.
- Future applications may include personalized 'à la carte' treatments for refractory tumors.
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