These are exciting times for the discovery and development of anticancer drugs. Through unprecedented advances in molecular biology and genetics, a myriad of drug targets have been identified in cancer cells. Likewise, advances in combinatorial chemistry, high through-put screening, computational and chemical synthesis have provided hundreds of agents in the clinic and many more in preclinical testing, that attack and inhibit these numerous targets, in an effort to improve the outcomes of patients with malignant neoplasms.
While there have been exciting successes with imatinib mesylate and bevacizumab, there have been multiple failures. The current challenge for physicians and scientists involved in research and therapy of cancer is to devise robust methods for identifying and credentialing valid cancer targets, followed by hypothesis-driven rational development strategies that aim at selecting patients who are most likely to respond to particular therapies and to reduce toxicity of therapy. This book brings together basic and clinical scientists who discuss approaches to address the challenges outlined above.
The first part provides a survey of validated and emerging novel molecular targets for drug development, and addresses methods of identifying and testing agents pre-clinically. The second part focuses on the challenges facing clinicians in performing rational, hypothesis-driven clinical trials and provides suggestions to overcoming a number of scientific and practical problems. This book should be useful to scientists and clinicians involved in drug development and novel therapeutics in academia, government,t and industry. The editors wish to thank all contributors for their patience during the long and arduous journey that brought this project to fruition.
- The Authors -
Key Features
- Addresses the critical issues involved in the development of novel agents for cancer therapy by experts in the field.
- Presents drug discovery strategies.
- Discusses regulatory issues surrounding drug development.
Contents
Part 1 STRATEGIES FOR DRUG DISCOVERY
- 1 A Survey of Novel Molecular Targets for Anticancer Drug Discovery
- 2 Microarrays: Small Spots Produce Major Advances in Pharmacogenomics
- 3 Strategies to Target Chemotherapeutics to Tumors
- 4 QSAR and Pharmacophore Mapping Strategies in Novel Anticancer Drug Discovery
- 5 Applications of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Mass Spectrometry t o Anticancer Drug Discovery
- 6 Antisense Strategies for the Development of Novel Cancer Therapeutics
- 7 Antibodies and Vaccines as Novel Cancer Therapeutics
- 8 Inhibitors of Apoptosis as Targets for Cancer Therapy
- 9 Preclinical Testing and Validation of Novel Anticancer Agents
Part 2 METHODS FOR CLINICAL TESTING OF NOVEL AGENTS
- 10 Surrogate End Points and Biomarkers for Early Trials of Novel Anticancer Agents
- 11 Regulatory Considerations in Clinical Trials of Novel Anticancer Drugs
- 12 Improving the Efficacy and Safety of Anticancer Agents--The Role of Pharmacogenetics
- 13 Imaging of Pharmacodynamic End Points in Clinical Trials
- 14 Devising Proof-of-Concept Strategies in Oncology Clinical Trials
- 15 Clinical Trial Designs for Cytostatic Agents and Agents Directed at Novel Molecular Targets
- 16 Cancer Gene Therapy Clinical Trials: From the Bench to the Clinic
- 17 Molecular Targets for Radiosensitization
- 18 Patient Accrual to Clinical Trials
Index
About the Authors
- Alex A. Adjei, MD PhD, is Professor of Oncology at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Consultant in Oncology at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. He is Director of the Phase I and Lung Cancer Programs at the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center. Dr Adjei's clinical and research programs focus on drug development and novel therapeutics for lung cancer.
- John K. Buolamwini, PhD, is Associate Professor of Medicinal Chemistry in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, TN. His research involves medicinal chemistry and pharmacology pertaining to novel anticancer agents and others. Dr. Buolamwini is the Editor-in-Chief of Current Cancer Drug Targets.
Product Details
- Hardcover: 464 pages
- Publisher: Academic Press; 1 edition (August 1, 2006)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0120885611
- ISBN-13: 978-0120885619
- Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 6.9 x 1.1 inches
List Price: $175.00