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The paradigm of personalized therapy in oncology

Giampietro Gasparini1, Raffaele Longo

  • 1San Filippo Neri Hospital, Division of MedicalOncology, via G. Martinotti, 20 Rome, Italy. gasparini.oncology@hotmail.it

Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets
|November 15, 2011
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Personalized anticancer therapy targets molecular tumor characteristics for improved patient outcomes. Optimizing tailored treatments requires validated biomarkers and understanding resistance mechanisms like tumor heterogeneity.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Anticancer therapy is shifting from histology-based treatments to molecularly targeted approaches.
  • Understanding tumor molecular taxonomy enables the identification of specific drug targets.
  • Personalized therapy aims to benefit selected patients based on their tumor's molecular profile.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current clinical results of personalized anticancer therapy.
  • To discuss the efficacy and limitations of targeted agents in advanced cancer.
  • To highlight the importance of predictive biomarkers in drug evaluation.

Main Methods:

  • Review of the state of the art in personalized therapy clinical results.
  • Discussion of targeted agents' impact on overall survival, response rate, and time to tumor progression.
  • Analysis of factors contributing to acquired resistance.

Main Results:

  • A limited number of targeted agents improve overall survival in advanced cancer patients.
  • Most targeted agents primarily affect response rate or time to tumor progression.
  • Efficacy of targeted agents is often limited by the development of acquired resistance.

Conclusions:

  • Tumor cell heterogeneity and the cancer stem cell model contribute to resistance.
  • Validated predictive biomarkers and pharmacogenetics are crucial for optimizing tailored therapies.
  • Close collaboration between research (bench) and clinical practice (bedside) is essential.

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