title: Targeting growth factors and angiogenesis; using small molecules in malignancy.
abstract: Targeted biologic therapy for cancer has evolved from the laboratory to active clinical protocols and applied clinical practice in selected patients. Major targets include epidermal growth factor, and vascular endothelial growth factor receptors which are commonly expressed in gastro-intestinal cancers head & neck and lung cancers, and to some degree breast and gynecologic malignancy. Down stream signal transduction pathway inhibition of B-raf and N-ras mutations are examined in melanoma. New approaches involving re-packaging of chemotherapeutic agents are being exemplified in the nanoparticle formulation of paclitaxel which provides increased access to endothelial and tumor cells with potential enhanced therapeutic efficacy compared to the conventional version solubilized in a cremophor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division Surgical Oncology, Roger Williams Medical Center, Providence, RI, USA. hwanebo@rwmc.org
authors.forename: Harold J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Wanebo
authors.forename: Athanassios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Argiris
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bergsland
authors.forename: Sanjiv
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Agarwala
authors.forename: Hope
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rugo
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011905:Genes, ras; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf; D017239:Paclitaxel