Molecular Aspects Of Anti Cancer Drug Action

This cutting-edge book surveys the current knowledge on the mode of action of the major classes of DNA-interactive antitumor agents, providing information that could be crucial for the discovery of new therapeutic substances. It is an important reference for molecular biologists, cancer researchers, biochemists, biophysicists, and pharmacologists.

An integrated presentation of the basic science and clinical applications of anticancer agents Aimed at both undergraduate and postgraduate readers, this unique text provides readers with a fully-integrated presentation of all aspects of the science of anticancer drugs, including their chemistry, pharmacology, and clinical applications. After heart disease, cancer is the number one killer worldwide, and the tumor microenvironment is forever changing, creating an ever-greater demand for safer, more effective anticancer agents. In response to that demand, the $100 billion cancer drug market continues to grow, with our increased understanding of cancer leading to new drugs being used clinically almost every year. Anticancer Therapeutics is divided into three sections. Section 1 is an introduction to cancer and therapeutics, and covers the etiology and cellular and molecular basis of cancer. In Section 2, the authors focus on the anticancer agents — their discovery, synthesis, mode of action, mechanisms of resistance, and adverse reactions. Section 3 focuses on specific cancers, explaining how and why the various agents discussed in Section 2 are used, both individually and in combination, to treat different cancers. Integrates aspects of basic science, including chemistry and pharmacology and clinical medicine in relation to cancer therapeutics Written by an author team comprising specialists in medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, and oncology Features full-color images throughout illustrating how drugs bind to cellular targets and exert their pharmacological effect Divided into three sections, covering the etiology and cellular and molecular basis of cancer, anticancer agents, and drug applications for different cancers. Providing the reader with an integrated understanding of all aspects of the science of anticancer agents, this is an ideal textbook for undergraduates studying medicine, nursing, medicinal chemistry, pharmacy, pharmacology and other allied heath / life sciences. It is also a valuable bench reference for pharmacists, medics, and pharmaceutical researchers working in both academia and industry.

This cutting-edge book surveys the current knowledge on the mode of action of the major classes of DNA-interactive antitumor agents, providing information that could be crucial for the discovery of new therapeutic substances. It is an important reference for molecular biologists, cancer researchers, biochemists, biophysicists, and pharmacologists.

Molecular Therapies of Cancer comprehensively covers the molecular mechanisms of anti-cancer drug actions in a comparably systematic fashion. While there is currently available a great deal of literature on anti-cancer drugs, books on the subject are often concoctions of invited review articles superficially connected to one another. There is a lack of comprehensive and systematic text on the topic of molecular therapies in cancer. A further deficit in the relevant literature is a progressive sub-specialization that typically limits textbooks on cancer drugs to cover either pharmacology or medicinal chemistry or signal transduction, rather than explaining molecular drug actions across all those areas; Molecular Therapies of Cancer fills this void. The book is divided into five sections: 1. Molecular Targeting of Cancer Cells; 2. Emerging and Alternative Treatment Modalities; 3. Molecular Targeting of Tumor-Host Interactions; 4. Anti-Cancer Drug Pharmacokinetics; and 5. Supportive Therapies.

While drug therapies developed in the last 80 years have markedly improved treatment outcomes and the management of some types of cancers, the lack of effectiveness and side effects associated with the most common treatment types remain unacceptable. However, recent technological advances are leading to improved therapies based on targeting distinct biological pathways in cancer cells. Chemistry and Pharmacology of Anticancer Drugs is a comprehensive survey of all families of anticancer agents and therapeutic approaches currently in use or in advanced stages of clinical trials, including biological-based therapies. The book is unique in providing molecular structures for all anticancer agents, discussing them in terms of history of development, chemistry, mechanism of action, structure–function relationships, and pharmacology. It also provides relevant information on side effects, dosing, and formulation. The authors, renowned scientists in cancer research and drug discovery, also provide up-to-date information on the drug discovery process, including discussions of new research tools, tumor-targeting strategies, and fundamental concepts in the relatively new areas of precision medicine and chemoprevention. Chemistry and Pharmacology of Anticancer Drugs is an indispensable resource for cancer researchers, medicinal chemists and other biomedical scientists involved in the development of new anticancer therapies. Its breadth of coverage, clear explanations, and illustrations also make it suitable for undergraduate and postgraduate courses in medicine, pharmacy, nursing, dentistry, nutrition, the biomedical sciences, and related disciplines. Key Features: Summarizes the fundamental causes of cancer, modes of treatment, and strategies for cancer drug discovery Brings together a broad spectrum of information relating to the chemistry and pharmacology of all families of anticancer agents and therapies Includes up-to-date information on cutting-edge aspects of cancer treatments such as biomarkers, pharmacogenetics, and pharmacogenomics Features new chapters on the "Evolution of Anticancer Therapies", "Antibody-Based Therapies", and "Cancer Chemoprevention"

The importance of drug resistance in cancer chemotherapy cannot be over stated. The 500,000 patients who die every year from cancer in the United States have, in most cases, been treated with chemotherapy. Many of these patients responded initially to chemotherapy, but death resulted from the development of drug-resistant tumors. In the first volume in the series. Drug Resistance in Chemotherapy the results of comprehensive laboratory studies aimed at understanding the mechanisms for resistance to individual agents and to the development of broad cross-resistance were described. In the past 2 years there has been substantial progress in understanding the molecular biology associated with these mechanisms of drug resistance. For the first time we are starting to understand which mechanisms are playing an im portant role in human tumors, and even more importantly, clinical trials have recently been initiated in an effort to reverse specific forms of drug resistance. The purpose of this volume is to describe the new advances, both at the molecular level and in the clinic regarding mechanisms of drug resistance and potential ways this resistance can be circumvented. This volume is focused upon mechanisms of resistance associated with two major classes of anticancer drugs: alkylating agents (including cisplatin) and the natural products (e. g. , adriamycin and vinblastine). The first section of the book describes new insights into the genetic mechanisms associated with drug resistance.