Advanced gastric cancer (GC) and cancer of the gastro-oesophageal junction (GEJ): focus on targeted therapies.
Despite recent improvements in surgical techniques and chemotherapy treatments, locally advanced/metastatic gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) and gastric cancer (GC) are still associated with poor clinical outcome. However, increased understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying carcinogenesis and its implementation in the treatment of breast, colon, lung, and other cancers in recent years have spurred focus on the development and incorporation of targeted agents in current therapeutic options for this difficult-to-treat disease. Such agents have the ability to target a variety of cancer relevant targets, including epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor. In this review, we describe the current status of targeted therapies in the treatment of advanced GC and GEJ cancer, focusing on pre-clinical and clinical data available on monoclonal antibodies and tyrosine kinase inhibitors acting in these pathways, including completed and ongoing phase III studies.
U.O.C. Oncologia Medica 1, Istituto Oncologico Veneto, IRCCS, Via Gattamelata 64, 35128 Padova, Italy. alessandro.cappetta@gmail.com
Alessandro
A
Cappetta
Sara
S
Lonardi
Davide
D
Pastorelli
Francesca
F
Bergamo
Giuseppe
G
Lombardi
Vittorina
V
Zagonel
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D018450:Disease Progression; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004943:Esophagogastric Junction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D066246:ErbB Receptors