On the Design of Combination Cancer Therapy

Abstract

Combination therapy programs are the hallmark of the successful treatment of all forms of human malignancies. In this issue of Cell, Palmer and Sorger present data suggesting that cell culture results indicative of synergistic anticancer drug interactions rarely translate clinically and that the results of combination therapies in mouse models or human clinical trials, even if successful, are best explained by the independent activities of the individually administered drugs. Combination therapy programs are the hallmark of the successful treatment of all forms of human malignancies. In this issue of Cell, Palmer and Sorger present data suggesting that cell culture results indicative of synergistic anticancer drug interactions rarely translate clinically and that the results of combination therapies in mouse models or human clinical trials, even if successful, are best explained by the independent activities of the individually administered drugs.