Targeted therapies in the treatment of colorectal cancers.

BACKGROUND

In solid organ malignancies, no tumor type has seen a greater impact from the development of novel targeted therapies in 2004 than metastatic colorectal cancer.

METHODS

We review the current progress to date with the use of monoclonal antibodies in colorectal cancer and look at newer therapies under investigation.

RESULTS

Two monoclonal antibodies received Food and Drug Administration approval in early 2004, both for the indication of advanced, metastatic colorectal cancer. A large, randomized, placebo-controlled study demonstrated that the addition of a monoclonal antibody to vascular endothelial growth factor, bevacizumab, led to a statistically significant improvement in overall survival, with tolerable additional toxicity. Chimeric monoclonal antibody therapy directed at the epidermal growth factor receptor was associated with radiographic responses in a significant minority of patients with irinotecan-refractory colon cancer in a randomized phase II study of patients with irinotecan-refractory disease.

CONCLUSIONS

These dramatic successes have led to further clinical studies of targeted therapy in colorectal cancer, making it one of the most promising areas of cancer research.