The offer of chemistry to targeted therapy in cancer

Recent Pat Biotechnol. 2011 Dec;5(3):174-82. doi: 10.2174/187220811797579079.

Abstract

Cancer therapy is facing the big challenge of destroying selectively tumour cells without harming the normal tissues. Chemotherapy was trying from the beginning to kill malignant cells because of their proliferative activity since normal cells are in general quiescent. Meanwhile side effects were produced due to the destruction of some normal cells that need regular proliferation. The discovery of biomarkers led to the identification of molecular targets within tumour cells in order to kill them selectively. Chemistry followed the progress of biomarkers biotechnology by the production of target specific antagonists which were the subject of many patents. Meanwhile novel problems of tumour resistance appeared and made the battle against cancer a non stop development of new strategies and new weapons. As a consequence, paralleled activities of patenting biomarkers and chemical antagonists are continuously generated. The offer of chemistry does not actually limit the efficiency of Targeted therapy but the identification of biomarkers is still missing the exclusive specificity to tumour cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Alkylating Agents / chemistry
  • Alkylating Agents / therapeutic use
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • ErbB Receptors / antagonists & inhibitors
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism
  • Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Patents as Topic
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • Alkylating Agents
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Biomarkers
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl