Advanced gastric cancer (GC) and cancer of the gastro-oesophageal junction (GEJ): focus on targeted therapies

• Published in: Critical reviews in oncology/hematology Vol. 81; no. 1; pp. 38 - 48
• Main Authors: Cappetta, Alessandro, Lonardi, Sara, Pastorelli, Davide, Bergamo, Francesca, Lombardi, Giuseppe, Zagonel, Vittorina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01-01-2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Antibodies, Monoclonal - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Disease Progression; Esophageal Neoplasms - drug therapy; Esophageal Neoplasms - metabolism; Esophageal Neoplasms - pathology; Esophagogastric Junction - drug effects; Esophagogastric Junction - pathology; Esophagus; Gastric cancer; Gastro-oesophageal junction cancer; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Hematologic and hematopoietic diseases; Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine; Humans; Medical sciences; Molecular Targeted Therapy; Monoclonal antibody; Protein Kinase Inhibitors - pharmacology; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor - antagonists & inhibitors; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor - metabolism; Stomach Neoplasms - drug therapy; Stomach Neoplasms - metabolism; Stomach Neoplasms - pathology; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus; Targeted therapy; Tumors; Tyrosine kinase inhibitor; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - antagonists & inhibitors; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - metabolism; Monoclonal antibody; Gastro-oesophageal junction cancer; Targeted therapy; Tyrosine kinase inhibitor; Gastric cancer; Esophageal disease; Malignant tumor; Stomach cancer; Esophagus cancer; Cancerology; Treatment; Digestive diseases; Advanced stage; Junction; Cancer; Gastric disease
• ISSN: 1040-8428; 1879-0461
• DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2010.12.006

Abstract Despite recent improvements in surgical techniques and chemotherapy treatments, locally advanced/metastatic gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) and gastric cancer (GC) are still associated with poor clinical outcome. However, increased understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying carcinogenesis and its implementation in the treatment of breast, colon, lung, and other cancers in recent years have spurred focus on the development and incorporation of targeted agents in current therapeutic options for this difficult-to-treat disease. Such agents have the ability to target a variety of cancer relevant targets, including epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor. In this review, we describe the current status of targeted therapies in the treatment of advanced GC and GEJ cancer, focusing on pre-clinical and clinical data available on monoclonal antibodies and tyrosine kinase inhibitors acting in these pathways, including completed and ongoing phase III studies.