title: Monoclonal antibodies for targeted therapy in colorectal cancer.
abstract: Traditional therapeutic regimens of solid tumors such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy often do not distinguish between malignant and normal tissues, resulting in considerable side-effects. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), targeted against antigens dysregulated in cancers, have therefore generated great interest in both clinical and research settings. The antibodies are either chimeric or human(ized) and can bind to and inhibit target proteins overexpressed in both solid tumors and hematological malignancies. Some of these mAbs have shown efficacy in patients who are refractory to traditional chemotherapy. Examples of FDA approved antibodies against metastatic colorectal cancer include cetuximab, panitumumab and bevacizumab. This review summarizes the current knowledge of mAbs targeting growth factors in colorectal cancer and the importance of carefully screening patients to select candidates who will benefit most from these therapies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey. banerjee@metu.edu.tr
authors.forename: Sreeparna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Banerjee
authors.forename: Hernan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Flores-Rozas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D066246:ErbB Receptors