Emerging biological treatments for uterine cervical carcinoma.
Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide, and the development of new diagnosis, prognostic, and treatment strategies is a major interest for public health. Cisplatin, in combination with external beam irradiation for locally advanced disease, or as monotherapy for recurrent/metastatic disease, has been the cornerstone of treatment for more than two decades. Other investigated cytotoxic therapies include paclitaxel, ifosfamide and topotecan, as single agents or in combination, revealing unsatisfactory results. In recent years, much effort has been made towards evaluating new drugs and developing innovative therapies to treat cervical cancer. Among the most investigated molecular targets are epidermal growth factor receptor and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling pathways, both playing a critical role in cervical cancer development. Studies with bevacizumab or VEGF receptor tyrosine kinase have given encouraging results in terms of clinical efficacy, without adding significant toxicity. A great number of other molecular agents targeting critical pathways in cervical malignant transformation are being evaluated in preclinical and clinical trials, reporting preliminary promising data. In the current review, we discuss novel therapeutic strategies which are being investigated for the treatment of advanced cervical cancer.
1. Department of Medical Oncology B, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, V Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy.
Patrizia
P
Vici
2. Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, V Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy ; 3. HPV Unit, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, V Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy.
Luciano
L
Mariani
1. Department of Medical Oncology B, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, V Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy.
Laura
L
Pizzuti
1. Department of Medical Oncology B, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, V Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy.
Domenico
D
Sergi
1. Department of Medical Oncology B, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, V Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy.
Luigi
L
Di Lauro
2. Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, V Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy.
Enrico
E
Vizza
4. Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, "La Sapienza" University, V Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy.
Federica
F
Tomao
5. Department of Medical-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, "La Sapienza" University of Rome, Oncology Unit, C.so della Repubblica, 04100, Latina, Italy.
Silverio
S
Tomao
2. Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, V Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy.
Emanuela
E
Mancini
2. Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, V Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy.
Cristina
C
Vincenzoni
1. Department of Medical Oncology B, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, V Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy ; 6. Scientific Direction, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, V Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy.
Maddalena
M
Barba
1. Department of Medical Oncology B, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, V Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy ; 6. Scientific Direction, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, V Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy.
Marcello
M
Maugeri-Saccà
7. Department of Radiation Oncology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute,V Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy.
Giuseppe
G
Giovinazzo
3. HPV Unit, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, V Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy ; 8. Laboratory of Virology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, V Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy.
Aldo
A
Venuti
advanced cervical cancer; clinical trials; molecular targeted agents; therapy; tyrosine kinase inhibitors.