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Targeted Therapy in Biliary Tract Cancers

Amartej Merla1, Kenneth G Liu, Lakshmi Rajdev

  • 1Department of Medical Oncology, Montefiore Medical Center, 1695 Eastchester Road, 2nd Floor, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.

Current Treatment Options in Oncology
|August 13, 2015
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Targeted therapies are revolutionizing cancer treatment, but none are approved for biliary tract cancers. This review explores molecular pathways and potential targets for personalized biliary cancer drugs.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Therapeutics

Background:

  • Personalized cancer therapeutics represent a paradigm shift in oncology.
  • Targeted therapies (e.g., erlotinib, trastuzumab, cetuximab) are approved for lung, breast, and colon cancers.
  • Biliary tract cancers (BTCs) lack approved targeted therapies despite ongoing clinical trials.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review molecular pathways implicated in biliary tract cancers.
  • To identify potential therapeutic targets for novel BTC treatments.
  • To bridge the gap between targeted therapy advancements and BTC clinical application.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of molecular pathways in BTC.
  • Analysis of targeted therapy approvals in other cancers.
  • Discussion of current standard of care (cisplatin and gemcitabine) in metastatic BTC.

Main Results:

  • Various molecular pathways are implicated in the pathogenesis of BTCs.
  • Despite rarity and heterogeneity, BTCs are grouped in clinical trials.
  • No targeted therapies are currently approved for BTC.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding BTC molecular heterogeneity is crucial for developing targeted treatments.
  • Identifying specific molecular targets could lead to personalized therapeutic strategies for BTC.
  • Further research into molecular pathways may unlock new targeted drug approvals for biliary tract cancers.

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