Molecular profiling of childhood cancer: Biomarkers and novel therapies.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Technological advances including high-throughput sequencing have identified numerous tumor-specific genetic changes in pediatric and adolescent cancers that can be exploited as targets for novel therapies.

Scope of review

This review provides a detailed overview of recent advances in the application of target-specific therapies for childhood cancers, either as single agents or in combination with other therapies. The review summarizes preclinical evidence on which clinical trials are based, early phase clinical trial results, and the incorporation of predictive biomarkers into clinical practice, according to cancer type.

Major conclusions

There is growing evidence that molecularly targeted therapies can valuably add to the arsenal available for treating chi

SUBMITTER: Saletta F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4633945 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature