Promising novel therapies for the treatment of endometrial cancer

Abstract

Objectives To discuss the novel agents which are being developed for the treatment of advanced and recurrent endometrial carcinoma and to review other molecular targets that may be interesting in the treatment of this disease. While the majority of women with endometrial cancer enjoy a relatively good prognosis, the options for those women who suffer from a disease recurrence are limited and there is a need to identify novel agents. Methods A review of clinical trials of novel therapeutic agents and their molecular targets is provided. In addition, a review of the current literature on other potential molecular targets for endometrial cancer was performed. Results Several phase II trials of novel agents, both alone and in combination with traditional cytotoxic chemotherapy, have been completed or are nearing completion. It appears that the targeted agents may have the most efficacy in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy or in a multi-targeted agent approach. Conclusions Chemotherapy offers the opportunity for a meaningful response rate in women with endometrial cancer, but the responses are often short lived and cure is uncommon in the setting of recurrent disease. The recent increase in molecular targets has led to the availability of many novel therapies. Determining how these agents are to be used, alone or in combination with “standard” therapies, needs to be defined and translational studies are needed to develop rational combinations of these novel agents before we can move into clinical trials.

Rapamycin inhibits cell proliferation in type I and type II endometrial carcinomas: A search for biomarkers of sensitivity to treatment

“…According to the results from the completed phase II trials to date, mTOR inhibitors do exhibit activity in women with advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer [7], with response rates of 26–28%. Based on the biologic correlates derived from some of these trials, response to mTOR inhibitors has not correlated with PTEN status or Akt and mTOR expression patterns [7].…”

“…According to the results from the completed phase II trials to date, mTOR inhibitors do exhibit activity in women with advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer [7], with response rates of 26–28%. Based on the biologic correlates derived from some of these trials, response to mTOR inhibitors has not correlated with PTEN status or Akt and mTOR expression patterns [7]. Although loss of PTEN is more commonly associated with type I tumors, there is no indication that mTOR inhibitors are not equally efficacious in type II tumors and other molecular characteristics may ultimately be the more critical factor in predicting sensitivity or alternatively, resistance to treatment.…”

“…As our knowledge has evolved of the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in endometrial cancer development and progression, many potential targeted therapeutic agents are being actively investigated [7]. Loss of PTEN expression is one of the most prevalent molecular abnormalities associated with endometrial cancers and occurs in an estimated 36–83% of type I endometrial cancers.…”

Endometriumkarzinom

“…primär fortgeschrittenen EC geprüft. Der "große Durchbruch" ist bisher noch nicht erzielt worden [7]. Sparing fertility in young patients with endometrialb cancer.…”

Anticancer agent icaritin induces apoptosis through caspase-dependent pathways in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells

“…The standard therapy for HCC is currently chemotherapy, particularly when surgical resection is not suitable (7). However, the current therapeutic options for HCC are not effective, since resistance and tumor relapse eventually develop (8). Novel therapeutic strategies, such as effective chemotherapy with low toxicity, are required, in order to decrease the incidence and improve the prognosis of patients with HCC.…”