Review article
Application of molecular targeted therapy in patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma
Damir Vrbanec
; Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Branka Petričević
; Department of Pathophysiology, Zagreb University Medical School, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
The introduction of targeted therapies has made substantial progress in advanced colorectal cancer treatment. Compared to chemotherapy, which is unselective – cytotoxic for both healthy and malignant cells and thus causes multiple adverse events, the targeted therapy is directed upon specific tumor cell markers. This leads to lower toxicity and improves therapy results. There are several groups of agents used in targeted therapy and two are in clinical use: monoclonal antibodies and small molecules – inhibitors of tyrosine kynase. Monoclonal antibody therapy is highly tumor specific with low toxicity. Two main functions of antibodies include recognizing and binding of antigens, and subsequently provoking immunological response of the patient. Small molecules act as inhibitors of tyrozine kynase intracellular domain, preventing phosphorilation and intracellular signal transduction. The tagreted therapy of colorectal cancer is directed upon EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) and its intracellular signal transduction as well as neoangiogenesis.
Keywords
advanced colorectal cancer; epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors; vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors
Hrčak ID:
281511
URI
Publication date:
7.12.2006.
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