Another concept emerging from this paradigm shift includes anti-angiogenic therapy.  The concept behind anti-angiogenesis is that by targeting a tumor’s blood supply, you can impact its viability.  A clinical example, which has recently validated this hypothesis, is the positive results of a large phase 3 trial for metastatic colorectal cancer using bevacizumab (Avastin) plus conventional chemotherapy to improve overall survival.

While targeted and anti-angiogenesis therapies are clearly demonstrating promise, researchers are already looking ahead to targeting multiple cellular pathways simultaneously.  Since cells are programmed to compensate when one pathway is shut down by opening another, they may require drug treatments, which use combinations of targeted drugs.  This paradigm may also benefit the participants whose tumors show resistance to one type of drug, but not another.

This is the end of "A New Paradigm."  Use the "Emerging Advancements" link to proceed.