[Targeted therapies of cancer: not lost in translation].
The term "targeted therapies" designs treatments directed towards molecular targets present on or within tumor cells, and contributing to the process of malignant transformation. These can be categorized in several different groups: 1) Targeted therapies directed against molecular targets which play the initial and critical role in neoplastic transformation; these treatment generally yield high response rates as single agent treatment. 2) Targeted therapies on late molecular targets contributing to tumor progression, but which do not correspond to the initial event; these treatments provide limited response rates as single agent but most often improve progression free and/or overall survival in combination with cytotoxic treatments. When the molecular target is present in tumor cells, but does not contribute to neoplastic transformation, these agents are generally non active in an in vivo setting. These observations point out the need to introduce translational research as a key element to schedule and evaluate the activity of novel targeted agents in the clinics.
Blay
Jean-Yves
JY
Hôpital Edouard-Herriot, Oncologie médicale, Pavillon E, 5, place d'Arsonval, 69437 Lyon Cedex. blay@lyon.fnclcc.fr
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001549:Benzamides; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics; D046152:Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D009154:Mutation; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000235:genetics; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit