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Viktorsson K, Rieckmann T, Fleischmann M, Diefenhardt M, Hehlgans S, Rödel F. Advances in molecular targeted therapies to increase efficacy of (chemo)radiation therapy. Strahlenther Onkol 2023; 199:1091-1109. [PMID: 37041372 PMCID: PMC10673805 DOI: 10.1007/s00066-023-02064-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances in understanding the tumor's biology in line with a constantly growing number of innovative technologies have prompted characterization of patients' individual malignancies and may display a prerequisite to treat cancer at its patient individual tumor vulnerability. In recent decades, radiation- induced signaling and tumor promoting local events for radiation sensitization were explored in detail, resulting the development of novel molecular targets. A multitude of pharmacological, genetic, and immunological principles, including small molecule- and antibody-based targeted strategies, have been developed that are suitable for combined concepts with radiation (RT) or chemoradiation therapy (CRT). Despite a plethora of promising experimental and preclinical findings, however, so far, only a very limited number of clinical trials have demonstrated a better outcome and/or patient benefit when RT or CRT are combined with targeted agents. The current review aims to summarize recent progress in molecular therapies targeting oncogenic drivers, DNA damage and cell cycle response, apoptosis signaling pathways, cell adhesion molecules, hypoxia, and the tumor microenvironment to impact therapy refractoriness and to boost radiation response. In addition, we will discuss recent advances in nanotechnology, e.g., RNA technologies and protein-degrading proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) that may open new and innovative ways to benefit from molecular-targeted therapy approaches with improved efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Viktorsson
- Department of Oncology/Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Visionsgatan 4, 17164, Solna, Sweden
| | - Thorsten Rieckmann
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Otolaryngology, University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Maximilian Fleischmann
- Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Frankfurt Cancer Institute (FCI), University of Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Markus Diefenhardt
- Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Frankfurt Cancer Institute (FCI), University of Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Stephanie Hehlgans
- Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Franz Rödel
- Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
- Frankfurt Cancer Institute (FCI), University of Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany.
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) partner site: Frankfurt, Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
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