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ABSTRACT: Invasive staging of mediastinal lymph nodes is recommended for the majority of patients with potentially resectable non-small cell lung cancer. In the past, 'blind' transbronchial needle aspiration during bronchoscopy and mediastinoscopy, a surgical procedure conducted under general anesthesia, were the only diagnostic methods. The latter is still considered the 'gold standard'; however, two novel, minimally-invasive techniques have emerged for the evaluation of the mediastinum: endoscopic (transesophageal) and endobronchial ultrasound - both performed using a dedicated echoendoscope, facilitating the ultrasound-guided, real-time aspiration of mediastinal lymph nodes. These methods are well-tolerated under local anesthesia and moderate sedation, with very low complication rates. Current guidelines on the invasive mediastinal staging of lung cancer still state that a negative needle aspiration result from these methods should be confirmed by mediastinoscopy. As more experience is gathered and echoendoscopes evolve, a thorough endosonographic evaluation of the mediastinum by both techniques, will obviate the need for surgical staging in the vast majority of patients and reduce the number of futile thoracotomies.
Anticancer research 06/2013; 33(6):2369-76. · 1.73 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Lung cancer remains one of the most common and malignant cancers worldwide. It is most often diagnosed at late stages, when it has already presented local invasion and distal metastases. The basic stages of invasion and metastasis involve the detachment of tumor cells from the extracellular matrix, invasion of surrounding tissues and basal lamina, intravasation into the blood stream, survival and transport through the blood stream, migration, arrest and extravasation at a distal site and formation of a metastatic lesion. These steps require fundamental mechanisms such as angiogenesis, degradation of matrix barriers, disruption of cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion and inducement of cellular motility. Genes that regulate functions like unlimited growth potential, survival, genomic instability, angiogenesis, epithelial to mesenchymal transition and apoptosis evasion, are involved in giving lung cancer tumors invasive and metastatic competence. Improving of understanding of the underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms remains an urgent and essential issue, in order to develop new more effective strategies in preventing and treating lung cancer.
Critical reviews in oncology/hematology 01/2013; · 5.27 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Treatment of locally advanced pancreatic cancer is palliative, based on chemotherapy and according to response, chemoradiotherapy can be applied. The authors summarize three abstracts (#LBA146, #256 and #303) presented on the 2013 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium, which were focused on treatment of locally advanced pancreatic cancer. A discussion is presented about the different chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy regimens, that move away from gemcitabine-based treatment, and the effort to find less toxic, but efficient therapeutic combinations.
JOP: Journal of the pancreas 01/2013; 14(2):126-8.
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ABSTRACT: At the time of diagnosis most of patients present with advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer, thereby precluding surgical resection. While the standard of care in the first line setting is established, there are limited data to support a standard second-line chemotherapy regimen. The authors summarize two interesting studies (Abstract #263 and Abstract #287) presented at the 2013 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium. These studies concern two phase II trials about second-line chemotherapy in pancreatic cancer. The first one evaluated the role of fluoropyrimidine as monotherapy versus fluoropyrimidine in combination with irinotecan (Abstract #263) and the second one compared the fluoropyrimidine treatment with the continuation of gemcitabine as monotherapy (Abstract #287).
JOP: Journal of the pancreas 01/2013; 14(2):133-4.
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ABSTRACT: The development of new agents and treatment strategies against pancreatic adenocarcinoma is vital, given the poor prognosis of the patients with this particular type of cancer. Three novel compounds were tested at different phases of clinical research and the results were presented in the recent ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium. FG-3019 inhibits the connective tissue growth factor which is important in the biology of pancreatic cancer and was shown to be relatively safe in a phase I study (Abstract #213). In addition, ASG-5ME, an antibody specific for SLC44A4 that is universally expressed in pancreatic cancer and also carries a conjugate chemotherapy particle was safe at the appropriate dosing in a phase I trial (Abstract #176). Last but not least, tanespimycin, a molecule that inhibits heat shock protein 90 was not effective in the first line treatment of patients with pancreatic cancer in a phase II study (Abstract #245). Further studying of FG-3019 and ASG-5ME will show the potential activity if any of these compounds in patients with pancreatic cancer.
JOP: Journal of the pancreas 01/2013; 14(2):138-40.
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ABSTRACT: Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas (IPMNs) are potentially malignant intraductal epithelial neoplasms which consist of columnar, mucin-containing cells and arise from the epithelium of the main pancreatic duct or its branches. IPMNs as well as pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasias (PanINs) and mucinous cystic neoplasms represent noninvasive precursors of invasive ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. The diagnosis of IPMNs includes radiographic (CT scanning, MRI, MRCP) and endoscopic evaluation (ERCP, EUS), PET, as well as serum tumor markers and molecular markers. The Sendai Consensus Guidelines help guide surgical resection for patients with IPMN. The follow-up of these patients, as well as of those who do not undergo surgical resection, is of great importance, since patients with IPMN appear to be at risk for other malignancies. Herein, the authors summarize the data presented at the 2013 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium regarding incidence and clinicopathological characteristics of IPMN (Abstracts #324, #187 and #179).
JOP: Journal of the pancreas 01/2013; 14(2):141-4.
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ABSTRACT: Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal malignancies with a mortality rate almost equal to its incidence. It is ranked as the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, and despite intensive basic and clinical research over the last few years, the survival benefit for the majority of patients with pancreatic cancer is still disappointing. Due to the absence of specific symptoms and the lack of early detection tests, pancreatic cancer is usually diagnosed at an advanced inoperrable stage and palliative chemotherapy with the purine analogue gemcitabine in combination with the targeted agent erlotinib, remains the mainstay method in the management of these patients. Therefore, there is an imperative need for new findings in the translational research field with prognostic, predictive and therapeutic value. In this paper we summarize five most interesting research abstracts as presented at the 2013 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium. In particular, we focus on Abstract #141 which investigates the interaction between liver and pancreatic organ damage in patients with pancreatic cancer and the potential contribution of the patatin-like phospholipase domain containing 3 (PNPLA3) gene variation in pancreatic cancer development and on Abstract #149, in which, the prognostic and predictive role of SWI/SNF complex, a chromatin-remodeling complex, is examined. The key role of pharmacogenomics, in terms of predicting response and resistance to chemotherapy in pancreatic cancer patients, is analyzed in Abstract #142 and the contribution of circulating tumor cell detection in the early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, allowing the avoidance of more invasive procedures like EUS-FNA, is discussed in Abstract #157. Lastly, in Abstract #164, the diagnostic utility of YKL-40 and IL-6 in pancreatic cancer patients is investigated.
JOP: Journal of the pancreas 01/2013; 14(2):145-8.
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ABSTRACT: The mainstay treatment of ampullary and periampullary adenocarcinoma is pancreaticoduodenectomy. Unfortunately, there are no standard options available in the postoperative management due to the rarity of the malignancy and the absence of prospective trials. In this year ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium three remarkable abstracts regarding the management of recurrent or metastatic ampullary and periampullary carcinoma were presented. The first study (Abstract #257) demonstrates that palliative reoperation should not be an option, because of its severe morbidity and high mortality. The second study (Abstract #317) supports that reirradiation is well tolerated and it could be used for palliative reasons and local control. The last study (Abstract #197) reveals the prognostic value of 92-gene RT-PCR assay and the authors support the use of this method for the management of metastatic periampullary adenocarcinoma when the primary pathological sample cannot be helpful.
JOP: Journal of the pancreas 01/2013; 14(2):158-60.
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ABSTRACT: Pancreatic cancer has historically proven resistant to anticancer agents. On the one hand, drugs might be more efficient if higher levels could be achieved at the tumor site rather than the normal tissues. On the other hand, the thick stroma and the relative absence of abundant vessels may account at least partially for the failure of successive clinical trials to demonstrate effective treatments in this type of malignancy. In this context, the development and testing in clinical trials of treatment strategies that aim to optimize drug delivery is an important target in improving the prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer.
rapeutic Advances in Medical Oncology, The 09/2012; 4(5):271-9.
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Katie Twigger,
Victoria Roulstone,
Joan Kyula,
Eleni M Karapanagiotou, Konstantinos N Syrigos,
Richard Morgan,
Christine White,
Shreerang Bhide,
Gerard Nuovo,
Matt Coffey,
Brad Thompson,
Adel Jebar,
Fiona Errington,
Alan A Melcher,
Richard G Vile,
Hardev S Pandha,
Kevin J Harrington
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ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Reovirus exploits aberrant signalling downstream of Ras to mediate tumor-specific oncolysis. Since ~90% squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (SCCHN) over-express EGFR and SCCHN cell lines are sensitive to oncolytic reovirus, we conducted a detailed analysis of the effects of reovirus in 15 head and neck cancer cell lines. Both pre- and post-entry events were studied in an attempt to define biomarkers predictive of sensitivity/resistance to reovirus. In particular, we analysed the role of EGFR/Ras signalling in determining virus-mediated cytotoxicity in SCCHN. METHODS: To test whether EGFR pathway activity was predictive of increased sensitivity to reovirus, correlative analyses between reoviral IC50 by MTT assay and EGFR levels by western blot and FACS were conducted. Inhibition or stimulation of EGFR signalling were analysed for their effect on reoviral oncolysis by MTT assay, and viral growth by TCID50 assay. We next analysed the effects of inhibiting signalling downstream of Ras, by specific inhibitors of p38MAPK, PI3-K or MEK, on reoviral killing examined by MTT assay. The role of PKR in reoviral killing was also determined by blockade of PKR using 2-aminopurine and assaying for cell survival by MTT assay. The apoptotic response of SCCHN to reovirus was examined by western blot analysis of caspase 3 cleavage. RESULTS: Correlative analyses between reoviral sensitivity and EGFR levels revealed no association. Intermediate sub-viral and core particles showed the same infectivity/cytotoxicity as intact reovirus. Therefore, sensitivity was not determined by cell entry. In 4 cell lines, oncolysis and viral growth were both unaffected by inhibition or stimulation of EGFR signalling. Inhibition of signalling downstream of Ras did not abrogate reoviral oncolysis and, in addition, modulation of PKR using 2-aminopurine did not alter reovirus sensitivity in resistant cell lines. Caspase 3 cleavage was not detected in infected cells and oncolysis was observed in pan-caspase inhibited cells. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, reovirus is potently oncolytic in a broad panel of SCCHN cell lines. Attempts to define sensitivity/resistance by analysis of the EGFR/Ras/MAPK pathway have failed to provide a clear predictive biomarker of response. Further analysis of material from in vitro and clinical studies is ongoing in an attempt to shed further light on this issue.
BMC Cancer 08/2012; 12(1):368. · 3.01 Impact Factor
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Valsamo K Anagnostou,
Anastasios T Dimou,
Taxiarchis Botsis,
Elizabeth J Killiam,
Mark D Gustavson,
Robert J Homer,
Daniel Boffa,
Vassiliki Zolota,
Dimitrios Dougenis,
Lynn Tanoue,
Scott N Gettinger,
Frank C Detterbeck, Konstantinos N Syrigos,
Gerold Bepler,
David L Rimm
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ABSTRACT: The importance of definitive histological subclassification has increased as drug trials have shown benefit associated with histology in nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The acuity of this problem is further exacerbated by the use of minimally invasive cytology samples. Here we describe the development and validation of a 4-protein classifier that differentiates primary lung adenocarcinomas (AC) from squamous cell carcinomas (SCC).
Quantitative immunofluorescence (AQUA) was employed to measure proteins differentially expressed between AC and SCC followed by logistic regression analysis. An objective 4-protein classifier was generated to define likelihood of AC in a training set of 343 patients followed by validation in 2 independent cohorts (n = 197 and n = 235). The assay was then tested on 11 cytology specimens.
Statistical modeling selected thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF1), CK5, CK13, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) to generate a weighted classifier and to identify the optimal cutpoint for differentiating AC from SCC. Using the pathologist's final diagnosis as the criterion standard, the molecular test showed a sensitivity of 96% and specificity of 93%. Blinded analysis of the validation sets yielded sensitivity and specificity of 96% and 97%, respectively. Our assay classified the cytology specimens with a specificity of 100% and sensitivity of 87.5%.
Molecular classification of NSCLC using an objective quantitative test can be highly accurate and could be translated into a diagnostic platform for broad clinical application.
Cancer 03/2012; 118(6):1607-18. · 4.77 Impact Factor
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Eleni M Karapanagiotou,
Victoria Roulstone,
Katie Twigger,
Mercel Ball,
Maryanne Tanay,
Chris Nutting,
Kate Newbold,
Martin E Gore,
James Larkin, Konstantinos N Syrigos,
Matt Coffey,
Brad Thompson,
Karl Mettinger,
Richard G Vile,
Hardev S Pandha,
Geoff D Hall,
Alan A Melcher,
John Chester,
Kevin J Harrington
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ABSTRACT: Reovirus type 3 Dearing (RT3D) replicates preferentially in Ras-activated cancers. RT3D shows synergistic in vitro cytotoxicity in combination with platins and taxanes. The purpose of this phase I/II study was to assess RT3D combined with carboplatin/paclitaxel in patients with advanced cancers.
Patients were initially treated in a dose-escalating, phase I trial with intravenous RT3D days 1 to 5, carboplatin [area under curve (AUC) 5, day 1] and paclitaxel (175 mg/m(2), day 1) 3-weekly. RT3D was escalated through three dose levels: 3 × 10(9), 1 × 10(10), and 3 × 10(10) TCID(50) in cohorts of three. Primary endpoints were to define the maximum tolerated dose and dose-limiting toxicity and to recommend a dose for phase II studies. Secondary endpoints included pharmacokinetics, immune response, and antitumor activity. A subsequent phase II study using the 3 × 10(10) TCID(50) dose characterized the response rate in patients with head and neck cancer.
Thirty-one heavily pretreated patients received study therapy. There were no dose-limiting toxicities during dose-escalation and most toxicities were grade I/II. Overall effectiveness rates were as follows: one patient had a complete response (3.8%), six patients (23.1%) had partial response, two patients (7.6%) had major clinical responses clinically evaluated in radiation pretreated lesions which are not evaluable by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST), nine patients (34.6%) had stable disease, and eight patients (30.8%) had disease progression. Viral shedding was minimal and antiviral immune responses were attenuated compared with previous single-agent data for RT3D.
The combination of RT3D plus carboplatin/paclitaxel is well tolerated with evidence of activity in cancer of the head and neck. A randomized phase III study is currently open for recruitment.
Clinical Cancer Research 02/2012; 18(7):2080-9. · 7.74 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: In recent years, molecular imaging with [(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose-positron-emission tomography, [(18)F]FDG-PET, has become part of the standard of care in initial staging of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer. Currently, there is an increasing interest in the role of [(18)F]FDG-PET in the evaluation of biological characteristics of the tumor and the prediction of response to anticancer therapies at an early phase of treatment. According to the existing data, quantitative assessment of therapy-induced changes in tumor [(18)F]FDG uptake may allow the prediction of tumor response and patient outcome very early in the course of therapy. Treatment may be adjusted according to the chemosensitivity of the tumor tissue in an individual patient. Thus, [(18)F]FDG-PET has the potential to reduce the side effects and costs of ineffective therapy. This review provides an update on recent studies that evaluate the role of [(18)F]FDG-PET in the early prediction of response to chemotherapy and prognosis in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer. In addition, it discusses the application of [(18)F]FDG-PET to the monitoring of new targeted forms of anticancer therapy and particularly of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Finally, it evaluates the usefulness of [(18)F]fluorothymidine, a PET tracer for imaging tumor proliferation, in predicting response to therapy in patients with lung cancer.
Clinical Lung Cancer 11/2011; 13(3):181-7. · 2.94 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: While gemcitabine-based regimens are currently accepted as the standard first-line treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma, there is no consensus regarding treatment in the second-line setting. This review is an update from the 2011 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium regarding recent developments in the treatment of refractory pancreatic cancer, as these were presented in Abstracts #237 and #272 of the meeting.
JOP: Journal of the pancreas 01/2011; 12(2):110-3.
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ABSTRACT: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma has repetitively proved refractory to chemotherapy and biologic compounds with only a few drugs offering limited benefit. A number of novel regimens has been tested in phase I trials and reported recently in the 2011 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium. Specifically, a novel mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor, a connective tissue growth factor inhibitor, a coagulase factor VIIa inhibitor, as well as adenovirus delivery of herpes simplex virus thymidine synthase gene followed by anti-herpetic treatment have all proven to be safe in pancreatic cancer patients. Phase II trials will provide further evidence whether they can become clinically relevant in the future.
JOP: Journal of the pancreas 01/2011; 12(2):114-6.
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ABSTRACT: Neuroendocrine tumors of pancreas (PNET) are very rare, consisting of heterogeneous histological subtypes with a variable natural history and different clinical manifestations. Although the vast majority of these neoplasms are sporadic, it is possible to be part of a genetic syndrome such as multiple endocrine neoplasia 1 (MEN-1) or tuberous sclerosis (TSC). When systemic treatment is required the options are limited and management strategy is generally based on experts' consensus or clinical experience. The prognosis is usually better than in pancreatic adenocarcinoma, though poorly differentiated PNET behave aggressively and survival is shortened. Since last year, there has been a significant advance in the management of PNET, after reported data confirmed the efficacy of everolimus, an mTOR inhibitor, in patients with advanced disease. At the 2011 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Gastrointestinal Symposium, updated results of the phase III trial (RADIANT-3) regarding the efficacy of everolimus in PNET (Abstract #158) were reported, along with the results of a subgroup analysis of the Japanese patients enrolled in this study (Abstract #289). Another agent with promising activity in PNET which will be discussed in this review is sunitinib, a biological agent with multikinase inhibitor properties (Abstract #244).
JOP: Journal of the pancreas 01/2011; 12(2):117-9.
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ABSTRACT: The high mortality rate of pancreatic cancer places this uncommon malignancy quite high as a cause of cancer related deaths. Compared to other solid tumors, there is a lag in the development of new effective drugs and the actual clinical benefit remains poor over the last decade or so. The lack of therapeutic options necessitates the invention of the important molecules playing role in pancreatic carcinogenesis and the development of specific targeted therapies. Treatment advances have to be proven first in the bench before applying them at the bedside, thus why translational research is so needed. At the 2011 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium, preclinical evidence was presented regarding the efficacy of C4 compound against focal adhesion kinase (FAK) (Abstract #214), the role of the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor apricoxib in enhancing the efficacy of gemcitabine and erlotinib (Abstract #227) and the role of curcumin and ABT-888 (a poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor) as potent radiosensitizers (Abstracts #222 and #203). Interestingly, the invention of a novel monoclonal antibody (ensituximab) against the mucin epitope NPC-1C in pancreatic and colon cancer cell lines exhibited notable antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (Abstract #235). Finally, enhanced selective targeting of pancreatic tumors was achieved by combining antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) with radioimmunotherapy (Abstract #206).
JOP: Journal of the pancreas 01/2011; 12(2):120-2.
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ABSTRACT: Angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis are key components of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tumor growth and metastatic spread; however, the prognostic and predictive role of angiogenic and lymphangiogenic biomarkers remains controversial for NSCLC patients. We assessed VEGF, VEGFC, VEGFD, VEGFR3 protein expression, tumor microvessel, and lymphatic vessel (LmVD) density by immunohistochemistry in 103 NSCLC; biomarkers were analyzed individually as well as multiplexed with each other. No correlations were identified between VEGF, VEGFC, VEGFD, or LmVD and clinical characteristics. VEGFR3 was correlated with VEGFC (p = 0.03), VEGFD (p < 0.0001), and intratumor LmVD (p = 0.03). Tumors that did not express VEGFR3 had a worse prognosis (log rank p = 0.03). VEGF was significantly correlated with survival in adenocarcinomas (log rank p = 0.014) but not in squamous cell carcinomas (log rank p = 0.5). Multivariate Cox regression analysis confirmed the independent prognostic potential of VEGFR3 (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.05; 95% confidence intervals (CI) = 0.008-0.32, p = 0.002) for all patients and VEGF (HR = 8.69, 95% CI = 1.4-53.69, p = 0.02) for adenocarcinomas. When biomarkers were multiplexed, only stage and VEGFC expression were independent predictors of survival for all patients. Weighted expression of VEGFC, VEGFR3, and stage was used to build a prognostic classifier for stage I-IIIA patients; patients in the low risk group had prolonged survival compared with high risk patients (log rank p = 0.02). There was no association between biomarkers and early recurrence or response to treatment. Angiogenic and lymphangiogenic biomarkers studied define subgroups of patients at high risk and may be useful for prognostic stratification of NSCLC patients especially those with early stage disease.
Archiv für Pathologische Anatomie und Physiologie und für Klinische Medicin 12/2010; 458(3):331-40. · 2.49 Impact Factor
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Mohan Hingorani,
Christine L White,
Shane Zaidi,
Hardev S Pandha,
Alan A Melcher,
Shreerang A Bhide,
Christopher M Nutting, Konstantinos N Syrigos,
Richard G Vile,
Georges Vassaux,
Kevin J Harrington
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ABSTRACT: Adenoviral (AdV) transfer of sodium iodide symporter (NIS) gene has translational potential, but relatively low levels of transduction and subsequent radioisotope uptake limit the efficacy of the approach. In previous studies, we showed that combining NIS gene delivery with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and DNA damage repair inhibitors increased viral gene expression and radioiodide uptake. Here, we report the therapeutic efficacy of this strategy. An adenovirus expressing NIS from a telomerase promoter (Ad-hTR-NIS) was cytotoxic combined with relatively high-dose (50 microCi) (131)I therapy and enhanced the efficacy of EBRT combined with low-dose (10 and 25 microCi) (131)I therapy in colorectal and head and neck cancer cells. Combining this approach with ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) or DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) inhibition caused maintenance of double-stranded DNA breaks (DSBs) at 24 hours and increased cytotoxicity on clonogenic assay. When the triplet of NIS-mediated (131)I therapy, EBRT, and DNA-PKi was used in vivo, 90% of mice were tumor-free at 5 weeks. Acute radiation toxicity in the EBRT field was not exacerbated. In contrast, DNA-PKi did not enhance the therapeutic efficacy of EBRT plus adenovirus-mediated HSVtk/ganciclovir (GCV). Therefore, combining NIS gene therapy and EBRT represents an ideal strategy to exploit the therapeutic benefits of novel radiosensitizers.
Molecular Therapy 09/2010; 18(9):1599-605. · 6.87 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Even though treatment of several types of solid tumors has improved in the past few years with the introduction of molecular targeted agents in the therapeutic armamentarium of the medical oncologist, response rates to these agents are generally modest. Increasing evidence is now revealing that genetic factors are affecting patients' response to these therapeutic agents as well as the frequency and intensity of toxic reactions. Importantly, pharmacogenetic analysis is now required for the administration of several molecular targeted agents in clinical practice. For the vast majority of these agents, however, data remain purely experimental. Herein, we provide an overview of the genetic changes (mutations and polymorphisms) that have been associated with response to treatment with anticancer molecular targeted agents. Special emphasis is given on molecules (monoclonal antibodies and tyrosine kinase inhibitors) that target critical mediators in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2/ERBB2/NEU) and the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) pathways. The true clinical utility of these applications remains to be proven in future prospective, randomized clinical trials in large patient cohorts of all different ethnic backgrounds.
Current pharmaceutical design 05/2010; 16(20):2184-93. · 4.41 Impact Factor
