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Monoclonal antibodies-based treatment in gastric cancer: current status and future perspectives

  • Review
  • Published:
Tumor Biology

Abstract

Gastric cancer (GC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related death, and despite having improved treatment modalities over the last decade, for most patients, only modest improvements have been seen in overall survival. Recent progress in understanding the molecular biology of GC and the related signaling pathways offers, from the clinical point of view, promising advances for selected groups of patients. In the past, targeted therapies have significantly impacted the treatment strategy of several common solid tumors such as breast, colorectal, and lung cancers. Unfortunately, translational and clinical research shows fewer encouraging targeted treatments with regards to the GC. To date, only two monoclonal antibodies (mAb), named trastuzumab and ramucirumab, are approved for the treatment of advanced GC, suggesting that in GC, maybe more than in other cancers, effective targeted therapy requires patient selection based on precise predictive molecular biomarkers. The aim of this review is to summarize the available data on the clinical advantages offered by the use of mAbs in the treatment of advanced/metastatic GC. Future perspective is also discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of pharmacology and University Center DIFF—Drug Innovation Forward Future, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25124, Brescia, Italy

    Giandomenico Roviello

  2. Department of Medical, Surgical and Neuroscience; Unit of General and Minimally Invasive Surgery, University of Siena, Viale Bracci 11, 53100, Siena, Italy

    Karol Polom & Franco Roviello

  3. Medical Oncology Unit, University of Siena, Viale Bracci 11, 53100, Siena, Italy

    Roberto Petrioli

  4. General, Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery, Department of Surgery, “San Matteo degli Infermi” Hospital, ASL Umbria 2, 06049, Spoleto, Italy

    Luigi Marano

  5. Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurosciences, Section of Advanced Surgical Oncology, University of Siena, Viale Bracci 11, 53100, Siena, Italy

    Daniele Marrelli & Lorenzo De Franco

  6. Unit of General Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera “C. Poma ” Presidio ospedaliero di Pieve di Coriano, Mantova, Italy

    Giovanni Paganini

  7. Department of Surgery and Bioengineering, Section of Surgery, University of Siena, Viale Bracci 11, 53100, Siena, Italy

    Vinno Savelli

  8. Department of Medical, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Piazza Ospitale 1, 34129, Trieste, Italy

    Daniele Generali

  9. Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Parma, Italy

    Andrea Ravelli

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  1. Giandomenico Roviello
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  2. Karol Polom
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Correspondence to Giandomenico Roviello.

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Roviello, G., Polom, K., Petrioli, R. et al. Monoclonal antibodies-based treatment in gastric cancer: current status and future perspectives. Tumor Biol. 37, 127–140 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13277-015-4408-9

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