title: Targeted therapy in biliary tract cancer: 2009 update.
abstract: Biliary tract cancers (BTCs) include cholangiocarcinoma (intrahepatic, perihilar and extrahepatic), carcinoma of the gall bladder and ampullary carcinoma. In patients with advanced disease the prognosis is poor. There is not a consensus regarding treatment strategy. Chemotherapy has only limited efficacy. This review summarizes the new approaches for BTC patients and the rationale for targeted therapies. The prognostic factors and the molecular features of BTC are analyzed. The clinical trials evaluating the targeted agents are accurately described, especially those assessing the role of anti-EGFR and antiangiogenic drugs. The ongoing trials are also analyzed. In fact, only the results of these trials will establish which is the most effective agent or combination for this setting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, University Campus Bio-Medico, 00128 Rome, Italy. g.tonini@unicampus.it
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tonini
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Virzì
authors.forename: Maria Elisabetta
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Fratto
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vincenzi
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Santini
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001661:Biliary Tract Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents