title: [How Long Should Cancer Chemotherapy Be Continued ?-From the Viewpoint of Duration of Efficacy of Molecular Targeting Drugs].
abstract: In cancer chemotherapy, some molecular targeting drugs maintain their efficacy even during a non-dosing period. Nivolumab, an anti-PD-1antibody that has recently been receiving particular attention, often maintains its efficacy during a nondosing period, although it takes several weeks to take effect. The efficacy of ipilimumab, an anti-CTLA-4 antibody, lasts for more than 1year after only 4 administrations. However, how long to continue the anti-HER2 antibody trastuzumab, after HER2-positive breast cancer patients with advanced or recurrent disease show remarkable improvement in imaging examinations remains uncertain. The same is true for imatinib in the treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumor and chronic myeloid leukemia. In addition, the use of bevacizumab, an anti-VEGF antibody, was reported to be associated with prolonged survival beyond progressive disease. As the use of molecular targeting drugs may provide prolonged beneficial effects, the continuation, suspension, or termination of therapy should be carefully determined to avoid any disadvantage to patients.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Medical Oncology, Kanazawa Medical University.
authors.forename: Yoshiharu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Motoo
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D028761:Withholding Treatment
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents