scholarly journals Companion Biomarkers: Paving the Pathway to Personalized Treatment for Cancer

2013 ◽  
Vol 59 (10) ◽  
pp. 1447-1456 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J Duffy ◽  
John Crown
Keyword(s):  
Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Epidermal Growth Factor ◽  
Tyrosine Kinase ◽  
Growth Factor Receptor ◽  
Severe Toxicity ◽  
Viral Oncogene ◽  
Anaplastic Lymphoma ◽  
Epidermal Growth ◽  
Viral Oncogene Homolog

BACKGROUND Companion biomarkers are biomarkers that are used in combination with specific therapies and that prospectively help predict likely response or severe toxicity. In this article we review the role of companion biomarkers in guiding treatment in patients with cancer. CONTENT In addition to the established companion biomarkers such as estrogen receptors and HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) in breast cancer, several new companion biomarkers have become available in recent years. These include v-Ki-ras2 Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) mutations for the selection of patients with advanced colorectal cancer who are unlikely to benefit from anti–epidermal growth factor receptor antibodies (cetuximab or panitumumab), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations for selecting patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) for treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (gefitinib or erlotinib), v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1 (BRAF) mutations for selecting patients with advanced melanoma for treatment with anti-BRAF agents (vemurafenib and dabrafenib), and anaplastic lymphoma receptor tyrosine kinase (ALK) translocations for identifying patients with NSCLC likely to benefit from crizotinib. SUMMARY The availability of companion biomarkers should improve drug efficacy, decrease toxicity, and lead to a more individualized approach to cancer treatment.

Application of Immunohistochemistry in Gastrointestinal and Liver Neoplasms: New Markers and Evolving Practice

2015 ◽  
Vol 139 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zongming Eric Chen ◽  
Fan Lin
Keyword(s):  
Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Epidermal Growth Factor ◽  
Liver Neoplasms ◽  
Liver Tumors ◽  
Growth Factor Receptor ◽  
Viral Oncogene ◽  
Epidermal Growth ◽  
Murine Sarcoma ◽  
Viral Oncogene Homolog

Context Diagnosis of primary gastrointestinal and liver neoplasms is usually straightforward. Immunohistochemistry is most helpful to differentiate metastatic carcinomas with morphologic similarity and to resolve tumors of unknown origin. Recently, several new markers highly sensitive and specific for primary liver and gastrointestinal tumors have been discovered. Their potential diagnostic application has not been widely appreciated by general practicing pathologists. In addition, a new trend in immunohistochemistry application has started, focusing on assessing predictive markers (such as human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) and mutation-specific markers (v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B V600E) to directly guide clinical management. Practicing pathologists need to be aware of and prepared for this evolving trend. Objectives To summarize the usefulness of several recently discovered immunohistochemical markers in the study of gastrointestinal and liver tumors; to suggest the most current and effective immunohistochemical panels addressing common diagnostic challenges for these tumors; to share practical experience and useful tips for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 testing in gastric and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma and v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B V600E immunohistochemistry in colorectal carcinoma. Data Sources Sources include literature review, and authors' research data and practice experience. The cases illustrated are selected from the pathology archives of the Geisinger Medical Center (Danville, Pennsylvania). Conclusions Application of immunohistochemistry in gastrointestinal and liver tumors continues to evolve. New tumor-specific markers constantly emerge and help pathologists to further improve diagnostic accuracy. Assessment of predictive and prognostic markers by immunohistochemistry in routine pathologic diagnosis is a new trend and will greatly facilitate the advancement of personalized cancer therapy.

scholarly journals Advances in target therapy in lung cancer

2015 ◽  
Vol 24 (135) ◽  
pp. 23-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Paul Sculier ◽  
Thierry Berghmans ◽  
Anne-Pascale Meert
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Epidermal Growth Factor ◽  
Tyrosine Kinase ◽  
Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase ◽  
Kinase Inhibitors ◽  
Growth Factor Receptor ◽  
Anaplastic Lymphoma ◽  
Epidermal Growth

Herein, we have reviewed and analysed recent literature, published in 2013 and early 2014, in the context of pre-existing data. Considered target therapies were tyrosine kinase inhibitors of active epidermal growth factor receptor mutations (e.g. erlotinib, gefinitib and afatinib), anaplastic lymphoma kinase rearrangements (e.g. crizotinib) or angiogenesis (drugs under development), or monoclonal antibodies against vascular endothelial growth factor (e.g. bevacizumab) or epidermal growth factor receptors (e.g. cetuximab). The therapeutic project has to consider tyrosine kinase inhibitors in the case of nonsmall cell lung cancer with active epidermal growth factor receptor mutations or anaplastic lymphoma kinase rearrangement. However, these drugs should not be used in the absence of the targeted genetic abnormalities.

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