Polymorphisms to predict outcome to the tyrosine kinase inhibitors gefitinib, erlotinib, sorafenib and sunitinib.

Conventional chemotherapeutic regimens have limited impact against most solid tumors and deal with significant toxicity. During the last years novel anticancer treatments targeting specific molecules or genes involved in cancer development are being developed to improve outcome and reduce side-effects. In particular several tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKIs, gefitinib, erlotinib, sorafenib and sunitinib) have been approved for the treatment of different solid tumors.

Absence of common somatic alterations in genes on 1p and 19q in oligodendrogliomas.

A common and histologically well defined subtype of glioma are the oligodendroglial brain tumors. Approximately 70% of all oligodendrogliomas have a combined loss of the entire 1p and 19q chromosomal arms. This remarkably high frequency suggests that the remaining arms harbor yet to be identified tumor suppressor genes.

Influence of polymorphisms on EGFR targeted therapy in non-small-cell lung cancer.

Non-small-cell-lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. However, chemotherapy has reached a therapeutic plateau and deals with significant toxicity. Novel anticancer treatments to neutralize specific molecules or genes involved in cancer development ("targeted-therapy") are being developed to reduce side-effects and improve outcome.