Clinical trials of VEGF receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors in pancreatic cancer.
Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Western countries and is among the deadliest diseases in humans. At present, gemcitabine is the standard chemotherapy for advanced pancreatic cancer, although (despite its use) prognosis continues to be dismal with a median survival of < 6 months. While targeting tumor vasculature has provided improved outcomes in colon, lung, breast and renal cell cancers, trials of angiogenesis inhibitors have lagged behind in pancreatic cancer. This review provides the rationale for exploring antiangiogenic therapies in the treatment of pancreatic cancer as well as summarizes present clinical development of VEGF receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors and their application to pancreatic cancer.
Cabebe
Elwyn
E
Stanford University School of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, Stanford, CA 94305-5826, USA.
Fisher
George A
GA
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor