Targeted drugs in combination with radiotherapy for the treatment of solid tumors: current state and future developments.

The continuously rising use of novel drugs, especially of molecules belonging to the group of targeted drugs is now shaping the therapeutic landscape. However, treatment combinations of targeted drugs with radiotherapy are still rare. Only the monoclonal antibody cetuximab (Erbitux®) has been approved for the treatment of locally advanced squamous cell cancer of the head and neck in combination with radiotherapy. Several targeted compounds are in advanced stages of clinical development for combination treatments with radiotherapy, of which substances with either anti-EGFR or anti-angiogenic mechanisms, such as trastuzumab, panitumumab, erlotinib, cilengitide and bevacizumab are the most promising. Aim of this article is to provide, mainly from a radio-oncological point of view, an overview about the current state as well as to give an outlook on the near future of the most advanced targeted combined treatment concepts for solid tumors.