Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain
the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in
Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles
and JavaScript.
In 2014, developments in our understanding of escape signalling circuits implicated in resistance to targeted agents in patients with lung cancer have led to improvements in tackling such resistance. The potential role for PET in the management of erlotinib therapy, novel combination therapies and pharmacogenomic-driven individualization of platinum-based chemotherapy represent other key advances.
In 2014, strides were made in the care of haematological malignancies. In particular, the heterogeneity of multiple myeloma was unravelled, and new diagnostic criteria and frontline standards of care were proposed; new therapeutic approaches have been validated and approved in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia; and in chronic myeloid leukaemia, complete cytogenetic response was confirmed as the primary therapeutic end point.
In 2013, studies confirmed that HPV infection of target cells predisposes to cervical (pre)cancer. In developed countries, HPV screening revealed superior protection than cytology screening. In India, visual inspection of the cervix after acetic acid application significantly reduced cervical cancer mortality after 12 years. Improved survival for women with advanced disease was observed after adjuvant bevacizumab.
The year 2013 has brought more options for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) with new ways to combine traditional agents, further refinement of predictive molecular for EGFR inhibitors and a new salvage option. Molecular profiling could identify subgroups to further improve treatment selection.
In 2013, the treatment of several NSCLC subtypes was refined. PROFILE-1007 and LUX-Lung 3 confirmed that targeted therapy was superior to chemotherapy, whereas NCIC BR19 and PointBreak failed to show superiority of adjuvant gefitinib and combined maintenance therapy, respectively. These studies reinforced some practices and discouraged others, underscoring the need for new prospective studies.
In 2013, new insights on the molecular features of cutaneous melanoma provided a paradigm shift in our understanding of the biology of this disease. Exploiting immune checkpoint blockade and the use of BRAF-targeted or MAPK-targeted agents contributed to important progress in the treatment and management of cutaneous melanoma.
2013 saw much progress in breast cancer research. Advances in high-throughput technologies continue to refine our knowledge of the molecular biology of breast cancer, and are beginning to give insight into cancer evolution, drug resistance, and how to deploy precision therapeutics.
Next-generation sequencing analysis and characterization of the microenvironment 'field-effect' that promotes hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development has revealed critical players and potential targets for chemoprevention. A biomarker-based drug development strategy is needed to improve future HCC clinical trials and therapies.
