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Targeted therapy in gastrointestinal malignancies

Ravi Chhatrala1, Yasmin Thanavala2, Renuka Iyer3

  • 1Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.

Journal of Carcinogenesis
|April 17, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Targeted cancer therapies, guided by biomarkers, are revolutionizing oncology, especially for gastrointestinal malignancies. This review covers approved and investigational targeted agents impacting cancer treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Advances in understanding cancer pathogenesis reveal molecular targets for novel therapies.
  • Biomarker-driven selection of targeted cancer therapy defines personalized medicine in oncology.
  • Targeted agents, particularly those inhibiting tumor angiogenesis, are increasingly approved for gastrointestinal malignancies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize currently U.S.-approved targeted agents for gastrointestinal cancers.
  • To review other targeted agents under investigation for gastrointestinal cancers.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of approved and investigational targeted agents.
  • Focus on agents targeting pathways in gastrointestinal cancer pathogenesis.

Main Results:

  • Nine targeted agents are currently approved in the U.S. for gastrointestinal cancers.
  • Several additional targeted agents are in various phases of clinical development.

Conclusions:

  • Targeted therapies represent a significant advancement in treating gastrointestinal malignancies.
  • Ongoing research continues to expand the armamentarium of targeted agents for personalized cancer care.
Keywords:
Gastrointestinal cancersmonoclonal antibodiestargeted drugstyrosine kinase inhibitors

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