Advances in molecular therapies in patients with brain tumors

摘要: Background: We are witnessing the development of new treatment modalities for primary brain tumors. An area under intense investigation is use small molecules targeting intracellular signaling pathways that interfere with growth, invasion, and metastasis high-grade gliomas. Methods: review clinical trials in adults This search included electronic databases, specialty journals. textbooks. proceedings, Web sites National Cancer Institute other cooperative tumor groups Europe United States. Results: Several drugs ability to down-regulate growth invasion malignant gliomas at various stages testing. Most these focus on interfering oncogenic survival pathways. Examples include inhibitors tyrosine kinases, farnesyltransferases, matrix metalloproteinases. These different testing, a conclusive picture which drug most effective, either alone or combination, needs better definition. The metalloproteinase inhibitor marimastat temozolomide has given best results date phase II trials, increasing rate 6-month progression-free recurrent glioblastoma multiforme anaplastic Conclusions: As our understanding biology increases specific molecular enter well-designed control prognosis tumors should improve.