OBJECTIVE: To study the association between plasma AAG level and non-haematological AEs of docetaxel in Malaysian breast cancer patients of three major ethnic groups (Malays, Chinese and Indians).
MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and twenty Malaysian breast cancer patients receiving docetaxel as single agent chemotherapy were investigated for AAG plasma level using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. Toxicity assessment was determined using Common Terminology Criteria of Adverse Events v4.0. The association between AAG and toxicity were then established.
RESULTS: There was interethnic variation of plasma AAG level; it was 182 ± 85 mg/dl in Chinese, 237 ± 94 mg/dl in Malays and 240 ± 83 mg/dl in Indians. It was found that low plasma levels of AAG were significantly associated with oral mucositis and rash.
CONCLUSIONS: This study proposes plasma AAG as a potential predictive biomarker of docetaxel non-haematological AEs namely oral mucositis and rash.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This review has been compiled using relevant keywords and a thorough web search utilising PubMed, ScienceDirect, GoogleScholar, Scopus, MEDLINE, and SpringerLink.
RESULTS: Conventional medicines that target various biological processes have a significant negative impact on normal cells. As a result, targeted therapies are required, which include the use of small-molecule inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies to target cancer cell surface receptors, growth factors, and other proteins involved in disease progression. In this review, we summarize the known targeted PaCa therapies, which include inhibitors of the KRAS, mTOR, and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways, as well as PARP, hedgehog, EGFR/ErbB, and TGF-β signaling pathways, along with inhibitors of the neurotrophic tropomyosin receptor kinase (NTRK).
CONCLUSIONS: An adequate understanding of PaCa pathogenesis and the adoption of tailored medicines can increase patients' overall survival. We believe targeted therapy can help patients with PaCa to have a better prognosis. As such, more research is needed to find appropriate biomarkers to aid in early tumor diagnosis and to discover novel prospective therapeutics based on the drugs listed in this article.