Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 12, 2025
A Flow Cytometry-Based Cell Surface Protein Binding Assay for Assessing Selectivity and Specificity of an Anticancer Aptamer
Published on: September 13, 2022
Targeted Therapies in Cancer: To Be or Not to Be, Selective
Skye Montoya1, Deborah Soong1, Nina Nguyen1
1Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, 1501 NW 10th Avenue, Miami, FL 33136, USA.
Abstract:
Development of targeted therapies in recent years revealed several nonchemotherapeutic options for patients. Chief among targeted therapies is small molecule kinase inhibitors targeting key oncogenic signaling proteins. Through competitive and noncompetitive inhibition of these kinases, and therefore the pathways they activate, cancers can be slowed or completely eradicated, leading to partial or complete remissions for many cancer types. Unfortunately, for many patients, resistance to targeted therapies, such as kinase inhibitors, ultimately develops and can necessitate multiple lines of treatment. Drug resistance can either be de novo or acquired after months or years of drug exposure. Since resistance can be due to several unique mechanisms, there is no one-size-fits-all solution to this problem. However, combinations that target complimentary pathways or potential escape mechanisms appear to be more effective than sequential therapy. Combinations of single kinase inhibitors or alternately multikinase inhibitor drugs could be used to achieve this goal. Understanding how to efficiently target cancer cells and overcome resistance to prior lines of therapy became imperative to the success of cancer treatment. Due to the complexity of cancer, effective treatment options in the future will likely require mixing and matching these approaches in different cancer types and different disease stages.
Insights
Targeted cancer therapies like kinase inhibitors show promise, but drug resistance is a major challenge. Combining therapies targeting complementary pathways offers a more effective strategy to overcome resistance and improve patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Targeted therapies, particularly small molecule kinase inhibitors, represent a significant advancement in non-chemotherapeutic cancer treatment.
- These inhibitors target key oncogenic signaling proteins, effectively slowing or eradicating cancers and inducing remissions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To address the challenge of drug resistance developing against targeted therapies.
- To explore strategies for overcoming resistance and improving the efficacy of cancer treatment.
Main Methods:
- Review of current targeted therapy approaches, focusing on small molecule kinase inhibitors.
- Analysis of mechanisms underlying de novo and acquired drug resistance.
- Evaluation of combination therapy strategies versus sequential therapy.
Main Results:
- Resistance to targeted therapies is a common problem, necessitating multiple treatment lines.
- Drug resistance arises through diverse mechanisms, precluding a universal solution.
- Combination therapies targeting complementary pathways or escape mechanisms show greater efficacy than sequential treatments.
Conclusions:
- Overcoming resistance to targeted cancer therapies is crucial for successful treatment.
- Combination strategies, including single or multi-kinase inhibitors, are more effective than sequential approaches.
- Future cancer treatment will likely involve personalized combinations of therapies tailored to cancer type and disease stage.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
02:57Targeted Cancer Therapies
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
02:50Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
01:27Tumor Immunotherapy
02:49Cancer Therapies
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
02:56Treatment Resistant Cancers
01:26Targets for Drug Action: Overview
Receptors are either membrane-spanning or intracellular proteins, which upon binding a ligand, get activated and transmit the signal downstream to elicit a response. Drugs bind receptors, either mimicking the action of endogenous ligands or blocking the receptor activity to bring about a modified response. Nearly 35% of approved drugs target the G...