title: Biologics in combination with chemotherapy for gastric cancer: is this the answer?
abstract: Gastric cancer (GC) continues to be a significant problem worldwide and is the third leading cause of cancer death. Armamentarium to treat GC whether it is potentially curable or metastatic (incurable) has changed little over the last decades with only two new agents being approved (trastuzumab and ramucirumab). Many relatively healthy patients after second-line therapy have limited and generally ineffective options. The recent The Cancer Genome Atlas analysis has uncovered four genotypes of GC; however, it is not sufficient to change our treatment strategies and more work needs to be done. The popular front-line regimen containing a platinum compound and a fluoropyrimidine is widely used for drug development and has worked well globally. Thus, this combination appears suitable for adding a biologic agent. The search for new classes of cytotoxics has almost stopped, but it is clear that cytotoxic therapy continues to contribute and it is here to stay. Biologic agents that modulate the immune system of the host appear promising along with many other biologics that can potentially inhibit signaling pathways that are often employed by GC cells. We will briefly describe the efforts that have targeted EGFR, mTOR, angiogenesis and MET pathways.
authors: University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology , 1515 Holcombe Blvd (FC10.3022), Houston, TX 77030 , USA +1 713 792 2828 ; +1 793 745 1163 ; jajani@mdanderson.org.
authors: Nikolaos
authors: N
authors: Charalampakis
authors: Elena
authors: E
authors: Elimova
authors: Yusuke
authors: Y
authors: Shimodaira
authors: Hironori
authors: H
authors: Shiozaki
authors: Roopma
authors: R
authors: Wadhwa
authors: Jaffer A
authors: JA
authors: Ajani
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001688:Biological Products / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001688:Biological Products
keywords: biologic therapy; chemotherapy; gastric cancer; treatment