Development of novel targeted therapies in the treatment of malignant glioma

Malignant gliomas are highly lethal tumours despite maximal therapy. Traditional treatments for these cancers-which rely on nonspecific, cytotoxic approaches that generally act through damaging DNA-have a marginal impact on patient survival. However, advances in the understanding of the molecular biology underlying glioma pathogenesis have revealed abnormalities in a set of common cellular pathways and functions among the majority of these tumours that are now being targeted by novel agents in preclinical and clinical development. Such molecularly targeted agents might offer the promise of improved tumour control without substantial toxicity. Still, significant challenges in their development remain: the inability to predict tumour response and limitations of drug delivery into the tumour. Two essential aspects of glioma therapy remain to be achieved: local control of the primary tumour and blockade of tumour-cell invasion of normal brain.