Current Applications For Overcoming Resistance To Targeted Therapies

Targeted therapies were initially developed to exploit the upregulation and dependence on key oncogenic pathways critical to cancer progression. Additionally, they also presented as a method to overcome chemoresistance by supplementing conventional therapeutic regimens with targeted therapies. However, the development of resistance to these combinatorial approaches has led to the reassessment of currently available therapeutic options to overcome resistance to targeted therapy. This book aims to provide an update on the advancements in the therapeutic arms race between cancer, clinicians and scientists alike to overcome resistance to targeted therapies. Subject experts provide a comprehensive overview of the challenges and solutions to resistance to several conventional targeted therapies in addition to providing a discussion on broad topics including targeting components of the tumor microenvironment, emerging therapeutic options, and novel areas to be explored concerning nanotechnology and the epigenome.

This book aims to educate nurses and advanced practice providers (APP’s) about known mutations, availability of targeted therapy and the management of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It will educate nurses and practitioners about the scope of therapy to assure safe and effective lung cancer treatment. In this era of personalized medicine, nurses and APP’s are responsible for guiding patients from diagnosis through treatment. This starts with the identification of patients that can benefit from these therapies, the key role of biopsy acquisition (ie. what to test, when and how often) and treatment selection based on the mutation identified. Readers will learn about the mechanisms of action, administration, potential adverse side effects and unique management strategies for these targeted agents. Lung cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer death in the United States and worldwide. Recent advances in the identification of specific oncogenic mutations that drive cancer development, growth and metastasis have led to major paradigm shifts in lung cancer treatment. Sophisticated methods are required to identify specific mutations at the time of diagnosis. This book explains how molecularly targeted therapies have been developed that target these drivers. To date, several tyrosine kinase inhibitors have been approved to target the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), EML4-ALK ,ROS1 and BRAF. Most recently, immune checkpoint inhibitors have been approved with some indication that efficacy may be enhanced for patients who overexpress PD-L1. While some driver mutations have been identified, there is ongoing investigation into additional mutations. In the case of driver mutations, lung cancers will develop resistance to therapy. This book provides nurses and APP’s with the mechanisms of resistance that have been identified such as T790 mutation and many others in the EGFR mutation, and shows how the next level of drug development is focused on identifying mechanisms of resistance and development of new agents that overcome these mutations. With this book in hand, nurses and practitioners will be able to navigate patients through this ever expanding field of lung cancer treatment.

Multiple Myeloma remains an incurable malignancy. As the disease progresses, it invariably becomes resistant to treatment and almost all patients develop refractory disease. There are multiple different types of targeted therapies and many of them are used in combination at different stages of disease. Targeted therapies that are approved to be used include Proteasome Inhibitors, Immunomodulatory Drugs and Monoclonal Antibodies. Second and third generations of these drugs are developed to overcome resistance and they have unique mechanism of actions. Targeted therapies that are undergoing clinical trials include CAR-T cells, bi-specific antibodies, vaccines, ubiquitin ligase inhibitors and BCL-2 inhibitors. This book will help to develop an understanding of targeted therapies in Multiple Myeloma. Its goal is to provide a unique review of the mechanism of action and resistance of the many targeted therapies in Multiple Myeloma by leaders of the field. The book will be useful for students in medical science, clinicians, health professionals, scientists, pharmaceutical professionals, drug developers, and policy makers. This book will provide an insightful knowledge of the biology of Multiple Myeloma, the mechanism of action and resistance of targeted therapies, application of biomarkers and genomics and possible strategies in overcoming resistance and future development.

The traditional approaches to treat various cancers include chemotherapy, radiation and/or hormonal therapy. While these therapies continue to be effective in large part, they are not selective and highly toxic. There have been encouraging results in alternative therapeutic approach called antibody-mediated anti-cancer therapy, which is less toxic, more selective, and can also reverse drug/radiation resistance.Monoclonal antibodies or mAbs can be used to destroy malignant tumor cells and prevent tumor growth by blocking specific cell receptors. mAbs can bind only to cancer cell-specific antigens and induce an immunological response against the target cancer cell. The book coversthe commonand unique features of mAbs agains various cancer, gives the latest developments onthe molecular, biochemical and genetic mechanisms of resistance by various mAbs, as well as discuss novel mAbs to overcome resistance."

This new volume updates the reader on selected areas of targeted therapy in breast cancer, with special emphasis on chemoprevention strategies, drug resistance, biomarkers, combination chemotherapy, angiogenesis inhibition and pharmacogenomics in the context of clinical efficacy. This selected review of targeted therapies will guide the reader on effective treatment as part of an integrated programme of patient management.

Drug Delivery Devices and Therapeutic Systems examines the current technology and innovations moving drug delivery systems (DDS) forward. The book provides an overview on the therapeutic use of drug delivery devices, including design, applications, and a description of the design of each device. While other books focus on the therapy, the primary emphasis in this book is on current technologies for DDS applications, including microfluidics, nanotechnology, biodegradable hydrogel and microneedles, with a special emphasis on wearable DDS. As part of the Developments in Biomedical Engineering and Bioelectronics series, this book is written by experts in the field and informed with information directly from manufacturers. Pharmaceutical scientists, medical researchers, biomedical engineers and clinical professionals will find this an essential reference. Provides essential information on the most recent drug delivery systems available Explains current technology and its applications to drug delivery Contains contributions from biomedical engineers, pharmaceutical scientists and manufacturers

This book contextualizes translational research and provides an up to date progress report on therapies that are currently being targeted in lung cancer. It is now well established that there is tremendous heterogeneity among cancer cells both at the inter- and intra-tumoral level. Further, a growing body of work highlights the importance of targeted therapies and personalized medicine in treating cancer patients. In contrast to conventional therapies that are typically administered to the average patient regardless of the patient’s genotype, targeted therapies are tailored to patients with specific traits. Nonetheless, such genetic changes can be disease-specific and/or target specific; thus, the book addresses these issues manifested in the somatically acquired genetic changes of the targeted gene. Each chapter is written by a leading medical oncologist who specializes in thoracic oncology and is devoted to a particular target in a specific indication. Contributors provide an in-depth review of the literature covering the mechanisms underlying signaling, potential cross talk between the target and downstream signaling, and potential emergence of drug resistance.

Drug Repurposing in Cancer Therapy: Approaches and Applications provides comprehensive and updated information from experts in basic science research and clinical practice on how existing drugs can be repurposed for cancer treatment. The book summarizes successful stories that may assist researchers in the field to better design their studies for new repurposing projects. Sections discuss specific topics such as in silico prediction and high throughput screening of repurposed drugs, drug repurposing for overcoming chemoresistance and eradicating cancer stem cells, and clinical investigation on combination of repurposed drug and anticancer therapy. Cancer researchers, oncologists, pharmacologists and several members of biomedical field who are interested in learning more about the use of existing drugs for different purposes in cancer therapy will find this to be a valuable resource. Presents a systematic and up-to-date collection of the research underpinning the various drug repurposing approaches for a quick, but in-depth understanding on current trends in drug repurposing research Brings better understanding of the drug repurposing process in a holistic way, combining both basic and clinical sciences Encompasses a collection of successful stories of drug repurposing for cancer therapy in different cancer types