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Pharmacology and Clinical Development of New Molecularly Targeted Agents

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Targeted Therapies for Solid Tumors

Part of the book series: Current Clinical Pathology ((CCPATH))

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Abstract

Conventional chemotherapy regimens have limited impact against most solid tumors. Recent advances in our understanding of the molecular basis of cancer have enabled the development of new, rationally designed, molecularly targeted antitumor agents. These agents interact with receptors, ligands, signaling molecules, or genes that play a pivotal role in tumor transformation and growth, and they can inhibit tumor cell proliferation, induce programmed cell death, inhibit angiogenesis, or enhance antitumor immune response.

The present chapter deals with the pharmacology of the most promising new molecularly targeted drugs for the treatment of solid tumors, such as drugs targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which are playing a central role in advancing cancer research, treatment, and patient outcome over the last several years. For regulatory reasons, these agents are first evaluated in advanced/metastatic tumors, wherein they might prolong survival. However, their use in the adjuvant setting may also contribute to curative therapy. Nevertheless, the use of these agents must be optimized, according to several pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacogenetics issues. A major challenge is the proper identification of the subgroups of disease and patients who will truly benefit from these treatments. Ideally, convenient and minimally invasive tests to decipher biomarkers of chemosensitivity and/or resistance, which might be applied to the patient before and during treatment, should be developed alongside the development of the associated molecularly targeted agent.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Oncology, VU University Medical Center, Cancer Center Amsterdam—CCA room 1.52, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, HV, 1081, The Netherlands

    Elisa Giovannetti MD, PhD & Elena Galvani PhD

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  1. Elisa Giovannetti MD, PhD
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  2. Elena Galvani PhD
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Correspondence to Elisa Giovannetti MD, PhD .

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  1. Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy

    Antonio Russo

  2. Catalan Institute of Oncology, University Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain

    Rafael Rosell

  3. Oncology Department, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Antwerpen, Belgium

    Christian Rolfo

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Giovannetti, E., Galvani, E. (2015). Pharmacology and Clinical Development of New Molecularly Targeted Agents. In: Russo, A., Rosell, R., Rolfo, C. (eds) Targeted Therapies for Solid Tumors. Current Clinical Pathology. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2047-1_3

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