The progress of targeted therapy in advanced gastric cancer

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Biology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Advanced gastric cancer (AGC) presents significant survival challenges despite palliative chemotherapy.
• Targeted therapy represents a promising frontier in AGC treatment.
• HER2-positive status is a key biomarker for specific targeted treatments in AGC.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current landscape of molecular targeted agents for advanced gastric cancer.
• To highlight approved targeted therapies and those under investigation.
• To discuss the efficacy and development status of various targeted agents in AGC.

Main Methods:

• Review of clinical studies and preclinical data on targeted therapies for AGC.
• Analysis of approved agents and ongoing investigations.
• Categorization of targeted agents based on their molecular targets (e.g., HER2, EGFR, VEGF).

Main Results:

• Trastuzumab, an anti-HER2 antibody, is the first approved targeted agent for HER2-positive AGC, demonstrating activity.
• Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors have not shown survival benefits in AGC.
• Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors, like ramucirumab, show promising results and are under investigation.
• Other agents targeting mTOR and c-MET are in early development stages.

Conclusions:

• Targeted therapies, particularly trastuzumab for HER2-positive AGC, have emerged as crucial treatment options.
• Ongoing research into novel targeted agents like VEGF inhibitors holds significant promise for improving AGC patient outcomes.
• Further clinical development is needed for agents targeting pathways such as mTOR and c-MET.