Höpfner M, Schuppan D, Scherübl H. Targeted medical therapy of biliary tract cancer: Recent advances and future perspectives. World J Gastroenterol 2008; 14(46): 7021-7032 [PMID: 19084910 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.14.7021]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Dr. Hans Scherübl, Professor, Klinik für Innere Medizin-Gastroenterologie und Gastrointestinale Onkologie, Vivantes GmbH, 10967 Berlin, Germany. hans.scheruebl@vivantes.de
Article-Type of This Article
Editorial
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World J Gastroenterol. Dec 14, 2008; 14(46): 7021-7032 Published online Dec 14, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.7021
Targeted medical therapy of biliary tract cancer: Recent advances and future perspectives
Michael Höpfner, Detlef Schuppan, Hans Scherübl
Michael Höpfner, Institute of Physiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, 10967 Berlin, Germany
Detlef Schuppan, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
Hans Scherübl, Klinik für Innere Medizin, Gastroenterologie und Gastrointestinale Onkologie, Klinikum am Urban, Vivantes Netzwerk für Gesundheit, 10967 Berlin, Germany
Author contributions: Höpfner M performed data aquisition, manuscript conception and writing; Schuppan D performed clinical interpretation and writing; Scherübl H performed manuscript conception, clinical interpretation and writing.
Correspondence to: Dr. Hans Scherübl, Professor, Klinik für Innere Medizin-Gastroenterologie und Gastrointestinale Onkologie, Vivantes GmbH, 10967 Berlin, Germany. hans.scheruebl@vivantes.de
Telephone: +49-30-130225201 Fax: +49-30-130225205
Received: August 30, 2008 Revised: November 12, 2008 Accepted: November 19, 2008 Published online: December 14, 2008
Abstract
The limited efficacy of cytotoxic therapy for advanced biliary tract and gallbladder cancers emphasizes the need for novel and more effective medical treatment options. A better understanding of the specific biological features of these neoplasms led to the development of new targeted therapies, which take the abundant expression of several growth factors and cognate tyrosine kinase receptors into account. This review will briefly summarize the status and future perspectives of antiangiogenic and growth factor receptor-based pharmacological approaches for the treatment of biliary tract and gallbladder cancers. In view of multiple novel targeted approaches, the rationale for innovative therapies, such as combinations of growth factor (receptor)-targeting agents with cytotoxic drugs or with other novel anticancer drugs will be highlighted.
