Overview of targeted therapies in oncology.
BACKGROUND
Recent scientific advances have provided a map of the human genome along with a better understanding of the processes that transform healthy cells into diseased cells. This has led to the emergence of a new class of drugs called targeted therapies.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the classifications and basic pharmacology of targeted therapies.


METHODS
A literature search was performed for peer reviewed journal articles using Medline (1996-2007), Embase (1996-2007) and Google. The search was performed using keywords such as angiogenesis inhibitors, cancer vaccines, gene therapy, monoclonal antibodies, small molecules, proteasome inhibitors, targeted therapy and tyrosine kinase inhibitors.


CONCLUSIONS
A review of the basic pharmacology is described in this article, including the following major categories of targeted therapies: * Small molecule drugs * Monoclonal antibodies * Apoptosis-inducing drugs * Angiogenesis Inhibitors * Cancer vaccines * Gene therapy.
Kalyn
Rhonda
R
Pharmacy Communities Oncology Network Educator, BC Cancer Agency - Centre for the Southern Interior, 399 Royal Ave, Kelowna, BC, Canada V1Y 5L3. rkalyn@bccancer.bc.ca
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000494:pharmacology; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D019496:Cancer Vaccines