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World J Gastroenterol. Apr 28, 2014; 20(16): 4536-4545
Published online Apr 28, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i16.4536
Targeting receptor tyrosine kinases in gastric cancer
Asahiro Morishita, Jian Gong, Tsutomu Masaki
Asahiro Morishita, Jian Gong, Tsutomu Masaki, Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Kagawa University School of Medicine, Kagawa 761-0793, Japan
Author contributions: Morishita A and Gong J performed the research; Morishita A and Masaki T analyzed the data; Morishita A wrote the paper.
Supported by Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan to Masaki T, No. 25460998
Correspondence to: Asahiro Morishita, MD, PhD, Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Kagawa University School of Medicine, 1750-1 Ikenobe, Miki-cho, Kida-gun, Kagawa 761-0793, Japan. asahiro@med.kagawa-u.ac.jp
Telephone: +81-87-8912156 Fax: +81-87-8912158
Received: October 28, 2013
Revised: December 19, 2013
Accepted: March 19, 2014
Published online: April 28, 2014
Core Tip

Core tip: Since the finding of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) about thirty years ago, its functions have been examined over the years as key regulators of proliferation, differentiation, and metastasis. Several RTKs are activated in advanced gastric cancer (AGC) and various RTK inhibitors have been developed as tailored therapy. The results of recent clinical trials evaluate the effectiveness of targeting RTKs. Unfortunately, recent progress in the development of RTK-targeted therapy for AGC patients has been modest. To provide maximal therapeutic benefits, well-designed clinical trials and combinations with appropriate drugs are required. In addition, new predictive biomarkers are immediately obliged to guide the selection of a drug-sensitive patients’ population.