title: Improving the efficacy of chemoradiation with targeted agents.
abstract: Chemoradiation is the standard therapy for the majority of inoperable, locally advanced cancers. Although there is a need to improve chemoradiation efficacy, normal-tissue toxicity limits our ability to give additional chemotherapy or higher doses of radiation. Thus, there is excitement about the addition of molecularly targeted agents, which tend to be less toxic than chemotherapy, to chemoradiation regimens. Unfortunately, initial empiric attempts have not been successful. This review will focus on the evidence that supports rational combinations of targeted agents with chemoradiation, with an emphasis on agents that target the DNA damage response and radiation-induced membrane signaling.
authors.affiliation: Departments of 1Radiation Oncology and 2Pharmacology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Meredith A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: Leslie A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Parsels
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maybaum
authors.forename: Theodore S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Lawrence
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004260:DNA Repair / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects