Determining If a Somatic Tumor Mutation Is Targetable and Options for Accessing Targeted Therapies

J Oncol Pract. 2019 Nov;15(11):575-583. doi: 10.1200/JOP.19.00262. Epub 2019 Aug 6.

Abstract

Targeted cancer therapies are drugs and biologics designed to affect cancer cell growth by blocking or interfering with specific molecular pathways in the cancer cell. Use of targeted agents usually requires verification through molecular testing that the patient's tumor harbors the molecular biomarker that is the target of the drug or is predictive of treatment benefit. Genomic mutations may be clinically actionable if they are associated with response or resistance to a potential therapy. If a genomic test reveals an actionable alteration, there are several options for accessing the targeted therapy. This article is intended to help clinicians determine if a tumor mutation is potentially treatable with a marketed or investigational drug or biologic product and to offer guidance on how to access the product of interest.

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics*
  • Drugs, Investigational / therapeutic use
  • Genomics / methods
  • High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing
  • Humans
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy*
  • Mutation*
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Precision Medicine*
  • Prognosis

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Drugs, Investigational