（4）分子標的薬

抄録

Since the approval and introduction of imatinib as the first molecular-targeted drug for the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia in 2001, more than 50 cancer targeted drugs have been approved in Japan. The molecular targeted drugs have shown prominent efficacy in several cancers caused by the corresponding target molecules. Over recent years, development of biomarkers, companion diagnostics, and next generation sequencing analysis for prediction of clinical outcome facilitated the selection of appropriate drug for patients. The molecular targeted drugs are classified into two groups, monoclonal antibodies and small molecules, which have various mechanisms of action, including inhibition of tyrosine kinases, tumor angiogenesis, and immune checkpoint. Various mechanisms of action of drugs may also exhibit unique adverse events that have not been previously observed. Continuous changes in cancer genomes lead to tumor heterogeneity, which in turn may fuel drug resistance. To overcome these issues, identification of new therapeutic targets and a large number of clinical trials with novel designs are in progress for realization of cancer precision medicine. Here, we summarize recent findings of molecular targeted drugs.