The future of drug development? Seeking evidence of activity of novel drugs in small groups of patients.

摘要

We increasingly recognize that our traditional classification of tumor types on the basis of the organ of origin and microscopy alone is inadequate. Tumors grouped according to histologic classification systems are diverse entities that differ greatly in their molecular characteristics, clinical course, and sensitivity to antitumor agents. Accordingly, many tumor types are currently divided into smaller subgroups on the basis of molecular characteristics that have therapeutic consequences. Examples include melanoma, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, and non-small-cell lung cancer. Undoubtedly, most tumor types as we currently know them will be redefined into smaller subsets of clinically relevant, molecular entities.