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Present status and problems on molecular targeted therapy of cancer

Nagahiro Saijo1

  • 1Division of Medical Oncology, Kinki University School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.

Cancer Research and Treatment
|April 14, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Molecular targeted cancer therapies show promise but face challenges like resistance and "negative data." Further research and evidence are crucial for developing effective personalized cancer treatments.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Molecular targeted drugs have yielded significant results in cancer treatment.
  • However, accumulated negative data and challenges hinder the development of some compounds.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Critically discuss five recent issues and problems in molecular targeted therapies.
  • Address challenges in drug discovery, resistance, patient selection, endpoint evaluation, and immunotherapy.

Main Methods:

  • Review of clinical trial data and scientific literature on molecular targeted therapies.
  • Critical analysis of issues including drug resistance, synthetic lethality, and endpoint selection.

Main Results:

  • Drug resistance to targeted therapies targeting driver mutations remains a challenge.
  • Synthetic lethality offers potential for patient selection in personalized medicine.
  • Antiangiogenic therapies like bevacizumab show improved progression-free survival but can increase toxicity.

Conclusions:

  • Development of targeted therapies faces hurdles such as resistance and unclear decision criteria for new compounds.
  • Evaluating immunotherapy efficacy requires robust proof-of-principle studies.
  • Accumulating global evidence is essential for advancing personalized oncologic care.
Keywords:
Antiangiogenic therapyDriver mutationEndpoint determinationMolecular targeted therapyPersonalised therapyResistanceSynthetic letharity

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