Targeted molecular therapy for malignant gliomas.
Advances in our understanding of the molecular changes and resultant cellular effects in malignant glioma are expanding the opportunities for novel targeted therapies. At present, chemotherapy and radiation followed by chemotherapy with nonselective cytotoxic agents is emerging as a standard treatment option for patients with malignant glioma. Unfortunately significant improvements in response and survival have not occurred for the majority of patients. The continued improvement in patient outcomes will require the incorporation of glioma-specific therapies either in the form of compounds specifically targeted to glioma-specific receptors or that inhibit signaling pathways promoting glioma survival and progression.
Nabors
L Burt
LB
University of Alabama at Birmingham, 10 20th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA. bnabors@uab.edu.
D005910:Glioma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012604:Scorpion Venoms / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014168:Transferrin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use
D018793:Interleukin-13; D012604:Scorpion Venoms; D014168:Transferrin; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; C091539:Chlorotoxin; D015847:Interleukin-4