title: Combining targeted therapies to enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy in patients with treatment-refractory colorectal cancer.
abstract: Exceeding interest arose in combining targeted therapies for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer as a result of impressive results reported on a small phase II study (BOND2). Consequently, clinical trial designs quickly adopted combined biologic therapy as a means to enhance treatment efficacy by blocking potentially two different signal transduction pathways. Recent data has been reported on the role of combined targeted therapies as well as ongoing trials. This review summarizes the potential preclinical rationale for combination targeted therapies in the treatment of colorectal cancer, currently available data, and the role of potential surrogate markers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston 77030, USA. ceng@mdanderson.org
authors.forename: Cathy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eng
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018849:Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases