title: Targeted therapies in oncology: in the crosshairs or at the crossroads?
abstract: Normal cellular behavior depends on functional integration of extracellular stimuli with intracellular signal transduction pathways. Coupling cell surface message reception to nuclear gene expression is no longer a linear model constructed with molecular components acting merely as conduits to relay signals that cascade toward the nucleus. What has emerged instead is a highly integrated circuit comprised of numerous molecular components harmoniously programmed to communicate a multitude of internal signals that controls cellular response. Despite increasing understanding of cell signaling, mutinous elements embedded in these pathways have defied complete resolution. Research indicates that propagation of signals emanating from the extracellular environment to the cell nucleus follows a complex internal circuit equipped with sophisticated molecular components that provide rigid control over a variety of cellular responses. Although increasing understanding of genetic aberrations and signaling pathway transgressions can lead to novel strategies for targeting cancer cells, the disappointing results from clinical trials suggest that the occult processes responsible for neoplastic transformation remain largely unexplained.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy and Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center, West Virginia University, WV, USA. ghiga@hsc.wvu.edu
authors.forename: Gerald M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Higa
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008495:Medical Oncology; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor