A number of agents targeting components of pathways and processes critical to neoplastic transformation and progression are ongoing clinical development. Notable successes include imatinib mesylate (STI571, Gleevec) in Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML), and Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST) and trastuzumab (Herceptin) in HER2 amplified breast carcinoma. More recently, gefitinib (ZD1839, Iressa) and bortezomib (PS-341, Velcade) have been approved for refractory non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) and multiple myeloma (MM), respectively. In addition, promising results from randomized studies of bevacizumab (Avastin) and cetuximab (IMC-225, Erbitux) have been reported and shortly may lead to their approval for the treatment of colorectal carcinoma (CRC). To what degree the success or failure of these agents has been due to target, the agent, the dose or the selection of patients is uncertain. Certainly, further evaluation of these factors is required to optimize therapeutic impact of targeted agents ...
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Janet Dancey (2003) studied this question.