Research progress of molecular-targeted agents in hepatocellular carcinoma / 中华消化外科杂志

Molecular-targeted therapy is a new method and tendency in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To date, sorafinib, a multi-targeted gent, is the only one proved to be effective in improving the survival of patients with advanced HCC. Sorafinib is also the first line systemic agent for advanced HCC. Other multi-targeted agents, such as sunitinib, are also proved to be effective. Erlotinib, gefitinib and eetuximab, which target epidermal growth factor receptor, show effectiveness but still need further investigation. Bevacizumab, which targets vascular endothelial growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, shows excellent results and deserves more clinical trials. The effects of bortezomib, sirolimus and imatinib, which target other pathways, are still under investigation. The future studies of molecular-targeted therapy for HCC should be focused on the combination of different targeted medicine, and combination of molecular-targeted therapy and chemotherapy, as well as individualized therapy.

Targeted therapy and tailored chemotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer / 대한내과학회지

The prognosis of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is very poor and the median overall survival is 10 to 12 months, despite the use of chemotherapy and targeted therapy. Recently, many targeted agents for NSCLC have been developed and tested in clinical trials. Of these, chemotherapeutic agents targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), such as gefitinib, erlotinib and cetuximab, have been very efficacious in the treatment of NSCLC. Many phase III trials have evaluated the efficacy of these agents in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy. Based on the results of these trials, clinical and molecular predictors of the response to EGFR-targeted agents, such as EGFR mutations or gene amplification, have been elucidated. Recent advances in understanding the biologic basis of acquired resistance to these agents have potential to improve the clinical effectiveness of agents targeting EGFR. Another agent, bevacizumab, targets an angiogenesis inhibitor, and has improved the survival in advanced NSCLC when used in combination with chemotherapy. In addition, many agents targeting tyrosine kinase inhibitors are being used in clinical trials. This review summarizes the outcomes of clinical trials evaluating agents targeting EGFR, angiogenesis inhibitors, and other molecules used alone or in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of advanced NSCLC. Also, the predictive role of NSCLC histology for chemotherapy response will be summarized from the results of phase III studies.

Developments in the chemotherapy treatment for advanced colorectal cancer / 中国癌症杂志

Metastatic colorectal cancer is a major cause of cancer-related mortality. Surgical resection of all known metastatic disease can be curative in selected patients. The majority of patients,however,require systemic chemotherapy as optimal palliative treatment for their disease. For years,effective treatment for advanced colorectal cancer was limited to fluorouracil. In the 1990s,two additional agents,irinotecan and oxaliplatin,were found to have activity against advanced colorectal cancer. Recently,new molecular targeted agents,bevacizumab and cetuximab,were for the first time demonstrated efficacy. Herein,we review recent developments in treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer and implication for optimal treatment in these patients.