Biological treatment of solid tumors of the gastrointestinal tract: the current and future state in the Czech Republic
Abstract
Biological therapy of solid tumors belongs among the clinical praxis of solid tumors. In digestive tract it is used mainly in therapy of metastatic colorectal cancer (bevacizumab, cetuximab, and panitumumab), gastric cancer (trastuzumab), liver cancer (sorafenib) and pancreatic cancer (erlotinib) including the neuroendocrine tumors (sunitinib, everolimus).
The goal is to block the tumor cells growth by influencing specific molecules involved in cancerogenesis process, metastasis development and cell growth. Important step in expansion of this treatment was the detailed understanding of its effect mechanism, mainly the ability to hit the targeted structures in the tumor cell.
The predictors of successful treatment help to assess patients who can benefit from this therapy and therefore to reduce the unnecessary expenses. The registration studies done in the past has shown this treatment effectiveness and safety.
It was confirmed in the clinical praxis afterwards. To monitor the biological therapy in the Czech Republic, the clinical registries of Czech Oncology Society are used.
The results are presented regularly both to the public and to the medical specialists.