Molecular targeted therapy of cancer: The progress and future prospect

Cancer has become a major public health problem worldwide. Researches focus on the new approaches for cancer treatments that involve the specific targets of the cancer disease. The premise of targeted therapy in oncology is the fundamental reliance of tumor cells on biological pathways to which drugs inhibiting those pathways can be applied. Tumor resistance to anticancer drugs is a well-known clinical phenomenon that is now yielding its secrets to investigation at the molecular level. Resistance of immunotherapeutic agents is a matter of concern that is believed to influence the effectiveness of anticancer therapies. The intrinsic or acquired drug resistance directly impacts on the survival and the prognosis of patients with cancer. This review presents the application of molecule targeted therapy in cancer treatment. A particular focus is on the potential mechanism that can facilitate further improvement of anticancer.