Biologic approaches to the treatment of gastrointestinal malignancy.
Though new agents have recently been approved for the treatment of gastrointestinal malignancies, cure rates remain low and survival times of patients short. Because of these discouraging numbers, there is a vigorous search for new agents and new strategies. This article reviews some of these strategies and the status of agents in clinical development. Though an exhaustive search is impossible and the field is changing so rapidly, the agents selected here for discussion may be considered representative of others. Discussed here are agents targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor as an example of an angiogenesis inhibitor, and agents targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor, the ras oncogene, and the immune system.
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.
Lee S
LS
Rosen
D019883:Alkyl and Aryl Transferases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051231:Farnesyltranstransferase; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011905:Genes, ras; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D019883:Alkyl and Aryl Transferases; D051231:Farnesyltranstransferase; D066246:ErbB Receptors