Toxicity as a biomarker of efficacy of molecular targeted therapies: focus on EGFR and VEGF inhibiting anticancer drugs.

ABSTRACT: In addition to being present in tumor cells, many targets of signal transduction inhibitors are also found in normal tissue. Side effects attributable to the mechanism of action of molecular targeted agents thus represent "on-target" modulation in normal tissues. These mechanism-based toxicities can be pharmacodynamic effects of pathway inhibition and, in tumors depending on the inhibited pathway for proliferation, might be biomarkers of efficacy. The development of rash with tyrosine kinase inhibitors or monoclonal antibodies targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor is associated with superior outcomes in lung, head and neck, colorectal, and pancreatic cancer studies. Correlated with superior efficacy in retrospective analyses of large studies in advanced colorectal, breast, and ren

SUBMITTER: Dienstmann R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3248772 | biostudies-literature | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature