title: Molecularly targeted therapies for malignant gliomas.
abstract: This review critically evaluates current knowledge of molecularly targeted therapies of malignant gliomas.Various molecularly targeted single-agent therapies, including targeted therapies of growth and survival, have been evaluated in clinical trials but have failed to demonstrate a significant survival benefit compared with standard treatment regimens. The efficacy of multitargeted kinase inhibitors or combinations of single-targeted kinase inhibitors is a promising strategy, but requires additional clinical evaluation before definitive conclusions can be made. Important areas for further research include the assessment of serum or tissue biomarkers, the elucidation of prognostic molecular markers, and the determination of whether the mechanism of action of a drug is appropriate to the genetic alterations observed within individual tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Oncology, University Hospital, University of Patras Medical School, Rion-Patras, Greece.
authors.forename: Andreas A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Argyriou
authors.forename: Haralabos P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Kalofonos
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005910:Glioma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D056572:Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors; D006801:Humans; D016023:Integrins / Q000378:metabolism; D011379:Prognosis; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000378:metabolism; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D056572:Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors; D016023:Integrins; D011494:Protein Kinases; C546842:MTOR protein, human; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; D011493:Protein Kinase C