Advances in Targeted Cancer Therapy

Volume 63 of "Progress in Drug Research" is devoted to recent developments in targeted cancer therapy. Significant advances in the fields of molecular and tumor biology over the past decade have led to this exciting new era in c- cer therapeutics with an intensive effort in rationally-designed cancer the- peutic strategies directed against selective molecular targets. These selective approaches may ultimately lead to tailoring treatments to individual patients where molecular biomarkers of sensitivity to therapy are identified, prod- ing better tolerated therapies with less side effects than past experiences with cytotoxic cancer chemotherapy, and reducing cancer to a controlled, chronic state. This volume contains eleven chapters, including updated reviews on a range of targets, such as tumor angiogenesis, apoptosis/cell survival pa- ways, and various inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinases, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and histone deacetylases (HDAC). Additional topics, including target validation, polypharmacology and potential synergy of involving multiple targets, antisense approaches, animal models for preclinical development of targeted agents, and obstacles, including development of resistance are also presented. In addition, the p- ticular challenges involved in translating preclinical data to clinical appli- tion are discussed. It gives me great pleasure to present this new volume. I would like to express my gratitude to the chapter authors, to Birkhauser Verlag and, in particular, to Dr. Beatrice Menz and Ms. Gabriele Poppen for their assistance in compiling and editing this volume. April 2005 Richard M. Schultz vii Progress in Drug Research, Vol. 63 (R. M. Schultz, Ed.

There have been tremendous advances in our understanding of molecular and tumor biology during the past few years. In the field of cancer therapeutics, it is expected that cytotoxic drug approaches will be gradually replaced with treatments based on biological targeted approaches. Hopefully these new targeted therapies will significantly increase efficacy and lack the devastating and troublesome side effects elicited by cytotoxic chemotherapy.

This volume is the first book to cover the general topic of targeted cancer therapy. It presents a range of targets such as tumor angiogenesis, cell cycle control and cell signalling, COX-2, apoptosis/cell survival, invasion and metastasis and approaches like kinase inhibitors, antisense, and antibody-based therapeutics. The emphasis is on preclinical development, including target validation, development of biomarkers, strategies for combination approaches, and development of resistance. The particular challenges involved in translating these data to clinical application are discussed.
This volume should be of broad general interest to researchers and clinicians involved in cancer therapy as well as other scientists interested in current strategies for cancer treatment.