Cancer Therapeutics: Experimental and Clinical Agents / Edition 1

by Beverly A. Teicher

Overview

Cancer drug discovery has been and continues to be a process of ingenuity, serendip­ ity, and dogged determination. In an effort to develop and discover better therapies against cancer, investigators all over the world have increased our knowledge of cell biology, biochemistry, and molecular biology. The goal has been to define therapeuti­ cally exploitable differences between normal and malignant cells. The result has been an increased understanding of cellular and whole-organism biology and an increased respect for the flexibility and resiliency ofbiologically systems. Thus, as some new therapeutic targets have been defined and new therapeutic strategies have been attempted, so have some new biological hurdles resulting from tumor evasion of the intended therapeutic attack been discovered. Historically, anticancer drugs have originated from all available chemical sources. Synthetic molecules from the chemical industry, especially dyestuffs and warfare agents, and natural products from plants, microbes, and fungi have all been potential sources of pharmaceuticals, including anticancer agents. There is no shortage of molecules; the challenge has been and continues to be methods of identifying molecules that have the potential to be therapeutically important in human malignant disease. "Screening" remains the most important and most controversial method in cancer drug discovery. In vitro screens have generally focused on cytotoxicity and have identified several highly cytotoxic molecules. Other endpoints available in vitro are inhibition of proliferation, 3 inhibition of [ H]thymidine incorporation into DNA and various viability assays, based most frequently on dye exclusion or metabolism.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781617370465
Publisher:	Springer-Verlag New York, LLC
Publication date:	11/19/2010
Series:	Cancer Drug Discovery and Development
Edition description:	Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1997
Pages:	451
Product dimensions:	7.01(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.04(d)

About the Author

Teicher, Beverly A. (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute)

The contributors represent the specialties of oncology and pharmacology. Most are from universities, research institutes, and pharmaceutical companies in the U.S., France, Italy, Canada, the Netherlands, Spain, and the U.K. Institutions prominently represented include NCI, Immunogen, Univ of Massachusetts, and Univ of Toronto.

Table of Contents

I. Cytotoxic Agents: Old and New.- 1 Nitrogen Mustards.- 2 Phosphoramide and Oxazaphosphorine Mustards.- 3 Development of the Nitrosoureas.- 4 Platinum Complexes.- 5 Anthracyclines.- 6 Topoisomerase I Inhibitors.- 7 DNA Topoisomerase II Inhibitors.- 8 The Taxoids.- 9 Sequence-Selective Groove Binders.- 10 Bis-Naphthalimides: Synthesis and Preclinical Evaluation.- II. Newer Strategies and Targets.- 11 The Enediynes.- 12 Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors.- 13 Interferons and Other Cytokines.- 14 Discovery of TNP-470 and Other Angiogenesis Inhibitors.- 15 Antisense Oligonucleotides.- 16 Growth Factors and Growth Factor Inhibitors.- 17 Immunoconjugates.- 18 A Case for ras Targeted Agents as Antineoplastics.- 19 Gene Therapy.

Editorial Reviews

2 Stars from Doody

This collection of essays discusses established anticancer drugs and their analogs and experimental approaches to oncologic therapy. The editor, Beverly Teicher, a respected cancer treatment researcher, states that her aim is to cover "100 years of focused effort ... to develop pharmacologic means to cure ... cancer." Nevertheless, the book is not a comprehensive review of the subject, particularly with the omission of discussion of any of the antimetabolite drugs and scant coverage of some natural products. Furthermore, the focus of the chapters on the drugs that are covered is variable. Some emphasize the history of drug development, others mechanism of action and resistance, some analog development. Few discuss classic pharmacologic or clinical issues. Other than the essay on oxazaphosphorines (cyclophosphamide), none is complete enough to be used a reference source. The chapters on innovative cancer therapies, while also variable in their approach, are the stronger part of the book. They generally review well the important basic science and practical issues in translating innovative approaches into a useful oncologic therapy. The book seems best suited for scientists in fields other than cancer drug research who desire an eclectic introduction to topics in this field. The individual chapter authors are established researchers in the areas they cover. This is both a major strength and weakness of the book. Although in many cases it adds a fascinating historical context to the elucidation of drug action (oxazaphosphorines), in some cases it leads to overemphasis on personal vignettes (angiogenesis inhibitors), technical topics (taxane synthesis), or drug analogs(anthracyclines) of particular interest to the authors. The references cited are useful and appropriate, but in some chapters do not reflect work in the field in the last two years. The illustrations and tables are excellent, particularly of analog structure, facilitating understanding of structure function relationships. The chapters are divided into numbered subsections; there is no correspondence in the numbering systems between chapters, nor does it appear in the table of contents. The index is limited. Spelling errors are annoying. Although this is not a definitive text, for those who bemoan the limitations of anticancer chemotherapy it offers insight into the trials and tribulations of preclinical oncologic drug development. For the general oncologic community, its value is less clear.

Gershon Y. Locker

Reviewer: Gershon Y. Locker, MD (Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine)
Description: This collection of essays discusses established anticancer drugs and their analogs and experimental approaches to oncologic therapy.
Purpose: The editor, Beverly Teicher, a respected cancer treatment researcher, states that her aim is to cover "100 years of focused effort ... to develop pharmacologic means to cure ... cancer." Nevertheless, the book is not a comprehensive review of the subject, particularly with the omission of discussion of any of the antimetabolite drugs and scant coverage of some natural products. Furthermore, the focus of the chapters on the drugs that are covered is variable. Some emphasize the history of drug development, others mechanism of action and resistance, some analog development. Few discuss classic pharmacologic or clinical issues. Other than the essay on oxazaphosphorines (cyclophosphamide), none is complete enough to be used a reference source. The chapters on innovative cancer therapies, while also variable in their approach, are the stronger part of the book. They generally review well the important basic science and practical issues in translating innovative approaches into a useful oncologic therapy.
Audience: The book seems best suited for scientists in fields other than cancer drug research who desire an eclectic introduction to topics in this field.
Features: The individual chapter authors are established researchers in the areas they cover. This is both a major strength and weakness of the book. Although in many cases it adds a fascinating historical context to the elucidation of drug action (oxazaphosphorines), in some cases it leads to overemphasis on personal vignettes (angiogenesis inhibitors), technical topics (taxane synthesis), or drug analogs (anthracyclines) of particular interest to the authors. The references cited are useful and appropriate, but in some chapters do not reflect work in the field in the last two years. The illustrations and tables are excellent, particularly of analog structure, facilitating understanding of structure function relationships. The chapters are divided into numbered subsections; there is no correspondence in the numbering systems between chapters, nor does it appear in the table of contents. The index is limited. Spelling errors are annoying.
Assessment: Although this is not a definitive text, for those who bemoan the limitations of anticancer chemotherapy it offers insight into the trials and tribulations of preclinical oncologic drug development. For the general oncologic community, its value is less clear.

Doody's Review Service

"...extremely readable...excellent treatment of drugs such as naphthalimides...Each chapter is succinct and well-written." -Cancer Forum

"...a most important source of literature for all those who are involved in basic cancer research and in the clinical care of cancer patients in different fields of medicine." -Haematologia

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