Chemistry and Pharmacology of Anticancer Drugs
Purchasing Options
Features
Summary
While drug therapies developed in the last 50 years have markedly improved the management of some types of cancers, treatment outcomes, and drug side-effects for the most common 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 currently in use or in advanced stages of clinical trials, including biologicals.
The book is unique in providing molecular structures for all anticancer drugs, discussing them in terms of history, chemistry, mechanism of action, structure-function relationships, and pharmacology. It also provides some relevant information on side effects, dosing, and formulation. The author, a renowned scientist in cancer research and drug development, also provides up-to-date information on the drug discovery process, including new research tools, tumor-targeting strategies, and fundamental concepts in the emerging areas of personalized medicine (e.g., oncogenomics) and chemoprevention.
Chemistry and Pharmacology of Anticancer Drugsis an indispensable resource for cancer researchers, medicinal chemists, and other biomedical scientists involved in the development of new anticancer treatments. Its breadth of coverage also makes it suitable for undergraduate and postgraduate courses in medicine, pharmacy, nursing, and related disciplines.
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION TO CANCER
Terminology
Metastases
Diagnosis and Screening
Formation of Cancer Cells (Tumorigenesis)
Mechanisms of Genomic Damage
Treatments
Discovery of Anticancer Drugs and Preclinical Evaluation
Accessibility of Drugs to Tumor Cells
Achieving Selective Toxicity
Limiting the Toxicity of Chemotherapeutic Agents
Overview of Mechanisms of Action of Chemotherapeutic Agents
Drug Resistance
Combination Chemotherapy
Use of Adjuvants
Infertility Following Cancer Treatments
ANTIMETABOLITES
DHFR Inhibitors (Antifolates)
Purine Antimetabolites
Pyrimidine Antimetabolites
Thymidylate Synthase Inhibition
Adenosine Deaminase Inhibition
Ribonucleotide Reductase Inhibition
DNA-INTERACTIVE AGENTS
Alkylating Agents
Cross-Linking Agents
Intercalating Agents
Topoisomerase Inhibitors
DNA-Cleaving Agents
ANTITUBULIN AGENTS
Vinca Alkaloids
The Taxanes
MOLECULARLY TARGETED AGENTS
Kinase Inhibitors
Inhibition of Ras Pathway Signaling
Cell Cycle Inhibitors
Proteasome Inhibitors
mTOR Inhibitors
HORMONAL THERAPIES
Breast Cancer
Prostatic Cancer
Neuroendocrine Tumors: Somatostatin Analogs
Estrogen Therapy
Progestogen Therapy
TUMOR-TARGETING STRATEGIES
Antibody-Based Approaches
Vascular-Targeting Strategies
X-DEPT (Biphasic) Strategies
Enzymatic Targeting
Photoactivated Drugs (Photodynamic Therapy)
Boron Neutron Capture Therapy
Novel Drug Delivery Approaches
BIOLOGICAL AGENTS
Biological Response Modifiers
Immunotherapy
Enzyme-Based Therapies
Vaccines
THE FUTURE
Novel Biological Targets and Therapeutic Strategies
New Research Tools and Methodologies
Chemopreventive Agents
PERSONALIZED TREATMENTS
Screening for Risk of Disease Development
Prognosis and Staging
Screening for Risk of Recurrence of Disease
Selecting Best Treatments for Patients
Predicting Side Effects of Chemotherapeutic Agents
Pharmacogenomics in Clinical Trials
ADJUNCT THERAPIES
Anti-emetic Agents
Steroidal Agents
Adjuvent Enzymes
Other Therapies
Index
*Each chapter includes an Introduction and a Further Reading section.
Editorial Reviews
”...This text is a gem for any graduate student in the pharmaceutical sciences or for anyone seeking an introductory reference in the area of anticancer drugs.”
— John S. Williamson, University of Mississippi, writing in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, Vol. 50, No. 26: December 27, 2007
"The author explains in the foreword that this, ‘book attempts to bring together a broad spectrum of information relating to the chemistry and pharmacology of anticancer drugs and therapies.’ The author succeeds in this aim in a very elegant text. The book is both informative and easy to read. It is a very interesting book and would be a welcome addition to any individual’s collection, and essential if this is your field."
– Steve Mitchell, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London in Imperial College of Science Technology, July 2008
". . . a noteworthy survey . . . The author, a renowned scientist in cancer research and drug development, clearly does not fail to provide up-to-date information on this trend in today’s pharmacology. A book that covers such a large number of anticancer drugs, ranging from those in clinical use to those under basic research, is nearly impossible to write. Dr. Thurston has done so, however, thanks to his expertise in the field . . . easy readability and directness make the book ideal for students . . . an indispensable resource for the libraries of research institutes, universities, and hospitals."
– Matteo Conti, Ospedales S. Maria delle Croci, Ravenna, Italy, in ChemMedChem, 2007, No. 2
"The book is unique in providing molecular structures for all anticancer drugs, discussing them in terms of history, chemistry, mechanism of action, structure-function relationships, and pharmacology . . . This volume is an indispensable resource for cancer researchers, medicinal chemists, and other biomedical scientists involved in the development of new anticancer treatments."
– In Anticancer Research, 2009, Vol. 29
"As written, the book does an excellent job for its intended audience of advanced undergraduates and health-care professionals in training or those with only peripheral exposure to cancer therapy . . . Overall, the book is easy to read and manages to not be redundant. This is all quite an accomplishment considering the topic."
– RA Sikes, University of Delaware, in British Journal of Cancer, 2007, Vol. 97
