BACKGROUND: We are witnessing the development of new treatment modalities for primary @entity1313 . An area under intense investigation is the use of small molecules targeting intracellular signaling pathways that interfere with growth, invasion, and @entity3 of high-grade @entity11 . METHODS: We review clinical trials of small molecules in adults with @entity1313 . This search included electronic databases, specialty journals, textbooks, proceedings, and Web sites of the National @entity5 Institute and other cooperative @entity1313 groups in Europe and the United States. RESULTS: Several drugs with the ability to down-regulate the growth and invasion of @entity11 are at various stages of testing. Most of these focus on interfering with oncogenic and @entity5 survival pathways. Examples include inhibitors of @entity669 kinases, farnesyltransferases, and matrix metalloproteinases. These molecules are at different stages of testing, and a conclusive picture of which drug is most effective, either alone or in combination, needs better definition. The metalloproteinase inhibitor marimastat with @entity2903 has given the best results to date in phase II trials, increasing the rate of 6-month progression-free survival for recurrent @entity463 multiforme and @entity11 . CONCLUSIONS: As our understanding of the biology of @entity11 increases and new drugs targeting specific molecular pathways enter well-designed cooperative trials, the control and prognosis of these @entity5 should improve.

Advances in molecular therapies in patients with XXXX .

@entity1313 :: ('MESH:D001932', 'Disease') :: ['brain tumor', 'brain tumors'] @entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['tumor', 'Cancer', 'tumors'] @entity11 :: ('MESH:D005910', 'Disease') :: ['anaplastic gliomas', 'malignant gliomas', 'gliomas'] @entity3 :: ('MESH:D009362', 'Disease') :: ['metastasis'] @entity2903 :: ('MESH:C047246', 'Chemical') :: ['temozolomide'] @entity669 :: ('CHEBI:18186', 'Chemical') :: ['tyrosine'] @entity463 :: ('MESH:D005909', 'Disease') :: ['glioblastoma']
@entity1313 :: (MESH:D001932,Disease) :: ['brain tumors']
