Onkologie. 2008:2(1):33-37

Did the introduction of targeted therapy limit the importance of cytostatic treatment?

Pavel Klener

1. interní klinika 1. LF a ÚHKT, Praha

Anticancer chemotherapy is one of the basic methods for cancer treatment. However, its mechanism of action is not specific, and therefore it may cause a damage on a normal cells and tissues. On the other hand, in recent years, many specific inhibitors of cancerogenesis has been discovered. This so called targeted therapy significantly improved therapeutic otcome. The most promissing seems to be inhibitors of proteinkinases and monoclonal antibodies. This review gives a detailed information of a broad spectrum of monoclonal antibodies, and compare its impact on the treatment of different malignancies. There is also mentioned the role of newly introduced cytotoxic drugs and their role for combination with targeted therapy. Altough the targeted therapy is an effective contribution to the treatment results in oncology, it could in any case replaced the conventional chemotherapy.

Keywords: anticancer chemotherapy, targeted therapy, monoclonal antibodies, new cytotoxic drugs

Published: April 1, 2008  Show citation