Individualization of anticancer therapy; molecular targets of novel drugs in oncology
Journal Title: Advances in Hygiene and Experimental Medicine - Year 2012, Vol 66, Issue 0
Abstract
Deregulation of cellular signal transduction, caused by gene mutations, has been recognized as a basic factor of cancer initiation, promotion and progression. Thus, the ability to control the activity of overstimulated signal molecules by the use of appropriate inhibitors became the idea of targeted cancer therapy, which has provided an effective tool to normalize the molecular disorders in malignant cells and to treat certain types of cancer. The molecularly targeted drugs are divided into two major pharmaceutical classes: monoclonal antibodies and small-molecule kinase inhibitors. This review presents a summary of their characteristics, analyzing their chemical structures, specified molecular targets, mechanisms of action and indications for use. Also the molecules subjected to preclinical trials or phase I, II and III clinical trials evaluating their efficiency and safety are presented. Moreover, the article discusses further perspectives for development of targeted therapies focusing on three major directions: systematic searching and discovery of new targets that are oncogenic drivers, improving the pharmacological properties of currently known drugs, and developing strategies to overcome drug resistance. Finally, the role of proper pharmacodiagnostics as a key to rational anticancer therapy has been emphasized since the verification of reliable predictive biomarkers is a basis of individualized medicine in oncology.
Authors and Affiliations
Katarzyna Regulska, Beata Stanisz, Miłosz Regulski
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP66815
- DOI -
- Views 154
- Downloads 0
Niefarmakologiczna modyfikacja funkcji śródbłonka – ważna lekcja w praktyce klinicznej
During the last few generations a rapid increase in the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases has been observed. This epidemiologic fact is in a wide range due to endothelial dysfunction. Endothelium, the inner layer of...
Metformin – mechanisms of action and use for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus
Metformin is widely used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Although this biguanide derivative has been used for more than 50 years, its mechanism of action has not been fully elucidated. In this article we...
Zróżnicowanie szczepów Escherichia coli wytwarzających beta-laktamazy o rozszerzonym spektrum substratowym
Zapobieganie zachorowaniom na grypę – z polskiej perspektywy
Emergence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa with class 1 integron carrying blaVIM-2 and blaVIM-4 in the University Clinical Hospital of Bialystok (northeastern Poland)
The effectiveness of carbapenems, considered as last-resort antimicrobials in severe infections, becomes compromised by bacterial resistance. The production of metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) is the most significant threat t...