title: Old disease, new targets--part-I, solid malignancies.
abstract: Targeted agents are now an integral part of treatment regimens for some cancers. Trastuzumab is established in treatment of human epidermal receptor 2 (Her2) positive breast cancers, with improvements in both, the disease free and over all survival. Monoclonal antibody (MoAB) against vascular growth factor receptor (VEGF), bevacizumab and cetuximab a MoAB against epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) are establishing their role in a many cancers after making their mark in colorectal cancer. Sorafenib and sunitinib have success stories in renal carcinoma. The Sorafenib Hepatocellular Carcinoma Assessment Randomized Protocol (SHARP) trial has established sorafenib role in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, while in gastrointestinal tumors; imatinib and sunitinib have proven role. At this point in time side effect profile of all these agents appears relatively safe however cost for developing countries remains an issue.
authors.affiliation: Section of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi.
authors.forename: Shiyam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Nehal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Masood
authors.forename: Asim Jamal
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Shaikh
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000188:drug therapy; D000068818:Cetuximab; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000188:drug therapy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000077544:Panitumumab; D000068878:Trastuzumab
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D000077544:Panitumumab; D000068878:Trastuzumab; D000068818:Cetuximab