Molecular targeted therapy for anticancer treatment

Abstract

Since the initial clinical approval in the late 1990s and remarkable anticancer effects for certain types of cancer, molecular targeted therapy utilizing small molecule agents or therapeutic monoclonal antibodies acting as signal transduction inhibitors has served as a fundamental backbone in precision medicine for cancer treatment. These approaches are now used clinically as first-line therapy for various types of human cancers. Compared to conventional chemotherapy, targeted therapeutic agents have efficient anticancer effects with fewer side effects. However, the emergence of drug resistance is a major drawback of molecular targeted therapy, and several strategies have been attempted to improve therapeutic efficacy by overcoming such resistance. Herein, we summarize current knowledge regarding several targeted therapeutic agents, including classification, a brief biology of target kinases, mechanisms of action, examples of clinically used targeted therapy, and perspectives for future development.

Fig. 1. Timeline for the approval of selected molecular targeted therapeutic agents.

The first FDA-approved targeted therapeutic agent for each cellular target (denoted in blankets) is indicated in the timeline.

Fig. 2. Mechanism of the anticancer effect of molecular targeted therapy.

a Schematic diagrams of the main protumor signal transduction pathways and their inhibition by molecular targeted therapeutic agents. b, c Schematic diagrams for antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity b and trogoptosis c. See the text and relevant references for details.