Targeted therapies for patients with germ cell tumors.
BACKGROUND
Patients with advanced germ cell tumors can be cured with cisplatin-based chemotherapy but the outcome remains unsatisfactory for patients with relapsed disease. Targeted therapies have changed the standard of care for many advanced solid tumors.


OBJECTIVE
To identify clinically available drugs that have the potential as targeted therapies in germ cell tumors.


METHODS
A literature search was carried out for expression and mutation status of receptor tyrosine kinases in germ cell tumors, also a literature and clinical trial database search for completed and ongoing clinical trials with targeted therapies in germ cell tumors.


CONCLUSIONS
c-KIT is mutated in some seminomas and bilateral germ cell tumors. Several case reports and small clinical trials with trastuzumab, thalidomide and imatinib were identified and clinical trials with sunitinib and bevacizumab are ongoing. We expect an increased use of targeted therapies in advanced germ cell tumors in the next few years.
Fenner
Martin H
MH
Hannover Medical School, Department of Hematology, Hemostaseology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany. fenner.martin@mh-hannover.de
Beutel
Gernot
G
Grünwald
Viktor
V
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000378:metabolism; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D002945:Cisplatin