Basics of molecular diagnostics and therapy of malignant tumors

Recent insights in disease pathogenesis and mechanisms of resistance to therapy of malignant tumors provide a rational basis for the development of novel therapeutic strategies that target genetic defects and deregulated signaling events in malignant tumors. In contrast to conventional therapeutics, small molecule inhibitors or monoclonal antibodies allow for a far more selective, targeted therapy of tumors that carry a corresponding target structure or gene expression profile. Molecular therapeutics therefore necessitate clinical deployment of genetic diagnostics for the identification of those patients who have a chance to benefit from these novel targeted therapies. © Springer Medizin Verlag 2005.