Concepts, Mechanisms, and New Targets for Chemotherapy

by Franco M. Muggia (Editor)

Overview

Concepts, Mechanisms, and New Targets for Chemotherapy describes new interconnections between rationally designed and empirically discovered compounds. One route that has not been travelled previously is that of protein kinase C inhibition. This pathway may be exploited to give potent inhibitors, such as the bryostatins, now in clinical trial. A summary is given of the current status of topoisomerase, focusing on recent clinical advances with camptothecin analogs based on connecting empiricism with concepts of drug selectivity.
Modification of existing therapies based on the pursuit of leads arising from mechanistic studies is also being applied clinically on a wide scale. Greater understanding should follow from the studies of reversal of the multidrug resistant phenotype, on the use of hydroxyurea to reverse resistance mediated by extrachromosomal DNA, and on various aspects of the fluoropyrimidine pathways.
Successful applications of chemotherapy to the treatment of specific diseases include the growing applications of systemic therapy using various skin malignancies. In prostate cancer, estramustine phosphate will likely play an expanding role. Taxanes are restructuring treatment regimens in breast cancer, and high-dose strategies are described with peripheral blood progenitor autografting in the treatment of ovarian and breast cancers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780792335252
Publisher:	Springer US
Publication date:	12/31/1995
Series:	Cancer Treatment and Research , #78
Edition description:	1995
Pages:	237
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.02(d)

About the Author

Muggia, Franco M., MD (USC-Norris Cancer Center)

The contributors represent the specialties of hematology/oncology, pharmacology, pharmacy, and medicine. Most are from universities, hospitals, and research institutions in the U.S., Sweden, the U.K., and Belgium. Institutions prominently represented include Univ of Alabama at Birmingham, Stanford, and Univ of Goteborg.

Table of Contents

1. Potential for protein kinase C inhibitors in cancer therapy.- 2. Recent clinical advances with camptothecin analogues.- 3. The reversal of multidrug resistance.- 4. Fluoropyrimidine catabolism.- 5. Use of hydroxyurea to alter drug resistance of human tumor cells.- 6. Aspects of one-carbon folate cycling related to fluoropyrimidine and antifolate therapy.- 7. Systemic therapy of skin carcinoma.- 8. Estramustine revisited.- 9. Taxoid compounds in breast cancer: Current status and future prospects.- 10. High-dose chemotherapy with peripheral blood progenitor autografting.

Editorial Reviews

Describes new interconnections between rationally designed and empirically discovered compounds used to treat cancer. The ten studies examine such concepts and mechanisms as protein kinase C inhibitors, comptothecin analogues, fluoropyrimidine catabolism, and the use of hydroxyurea to alter the drug resistance of human tumor cells; and describe new applications to skin, prostrate, breast, and uterine cancer. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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