The introduction of new anticancer drugs and drug combinations, as well as the use of high-dose chemotherapy with growth factor and hemopoietic stem cell support, has greatly increased clinical remission rates. Unfortunately palliation, rather than cure, remains the most realistic goal of chemotherapy for many patients. The failure to cure metastatic cancer is commonly attributed to drug "resistance." Resistance can be broadly viewed as the survival of malignant cells because of a failure to deliver an effective drug dose to the (cellular) target, resulting from any one of or combination of individual factors. For example, inter-individual genetic differences in drug metabolism, as well as differences in tumor kinetics and vascularization, may be important for treatment outcome. In addition, numerous molecular mechanisms of resistance have been elucidated at the level of the individual tumor cell.
The present volume reviews clinically relevant aspects of the pharmacokinetics of commonly used anticancer agents as well as mechanisms of cellular/experimental resistance to such agents. This extends to technological advances that enable high-throughput studies of genetic polymorphisms, which has opened up new avenues to the study of drug resistance and to the individualization of chemotherapy in order to decrease clinical toxicity and optimize treatment results.
"This text provides a comprehensive review of the mechanisms of resistance to cancer chemotherapuetic agents. Leading experts discuss molecular and biochemical pathways that influence cytotoxicity. Knowledge of these potential obstacles to therapy will allow for the development of more effective strategies to treat malignantdiseases."
Steven T. Rosen, M.D., Series Editor

We are in an exciting era in the war against cancer, with real prospects for novel anticancer drugs that are cancer cell-specific without the toxicities that have been the hallmark of conventional cytotoxic cancer chemotherapy. Advances in cancer cell biology fueled by the molecular biology revolution have resulted in the uncovering of many novel potential molecular targets for cancer therapy. New anticancer drug discovery and development is now largely focused on exploiting these new molecular targets, which encompass oncogenes, tumor s- pressor genes, and their gene products, as well as targets involved in tumor angiogenesis, metastasis, survival, and longevity mechanisms. Exploitation of some of these targets has already yielded fruits and introduced new paradigms of molecularly targeted cancer therapy into the clinic, namely, protein kinase in- bition by antibodies or small molecules, exemplified by Herceptin (R) (trastuzumab), a humanized antibody targeted against the HER-2 growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer; and Gleevec, a small molecule bcr-abl kinase inhibitor for the treatment of chronic myel- enous leukemia.

Handbook of Geriatric Oncology is a practical resource for oncologists and related clinicians who want to provide comprehensive, patient-centered care to the elderly cancer patient. Divided into nine succinct sections, it includes topics spanning an Overview of Geriatric Oncology and Aging, Geriatric Syndromes, Geriatric Assessment, Select Cancers Commonly Diagnosed in the Elderly, Communication with the Older Cancer Patient, the Nursing Home Patient with Cancer, Models of Care and Survivorship, Palliative Care, and Integrative Medicine. Complex issues such as the physiologic changes of aging and their effect on cancer, corresponding social and psychological aspects that accompany aging and a cancer diagnosis, assessment of frailty, managing comorbid conditions and diseases, effective communication among healthcare providers, the patient and caregivers, as well as the risks and benefits of cancer screening, are made simpler with helpful clinical guidance and clinical pearls. Spearheaded by world experts in geriatric oncology from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, this book is the definitive resource for oncologists and related clinicians to meet the demands of clinical management along the continuum of geriatric cancer care. Key Features: Provides best practices for evaluating geriatric syndromes such as functional dependency, falls, cognitive impairment and dementia, delirium, depression and anxiety, social isolation as well as syndromes related to nutrition, comorbid conditions, and polypharmacy. Includes practical guidance on when to treat and when not to treat cancer in older patients Discusses unique factors associated with breast cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, bladder cancer, pancreatic cancer, head and neck cancers, and myelodysplastic syndromes in the elderly that impact care plans and treatment.

Leading international experts comprehensively review all aspects of platinum anticancer drugs and their current use in treatment, as well as examining their future therapeutic prospects. Writing from a variety of disciplines, these authorities discuss the chemistry of cisplatin in aqueous solution, the molecular interaction of platinum drugs with DNA, and such exciting new areas as DNA mismatch repair and replicative bypass, apoptosis, and the transport of platinum drugs into tumor cells. The emergent platinum drugs of the future-orally active agents, the sterically hindered ZD0473, and the polynuclear charged platinum BBR3464-are also fully considered. Timely and interdisciplinary, Platinum-Based Drugs in Cancer Therapy offers cancer therapeutics specialists an illuminating survey of every aspect of platinum drugs from mechanisms of action to toxicology, tumor resistance, and new analogs.

The approach to drug discovery from natural sources has yielded many important new pharmaceuticals inaccessible by other routes. In many cases the isolated natural product may not be an effective drug for any of several reasons, but it nevertheless may become a drug through chemical modification or have a novel pharmacophore for future drug design. In summarizing the status of natural products as cancer chemotherapeutics, Anticancer Agents from Natural Products, Second Edition covers the: History of each covered drug-a discussion of its mechanism on action, medicinal chemistry, synthesis, and clinical applications Potential for novel drug discovery through the use of genome mining as well as future developments in anticancer drug discovery Important biosynthetic approaches to "unnatural" natural products Anticancer Agents from Natural Products, Second Edition discusses how complex target-oriented synthesis-enabled by historic advances in methodology-has enormously expanded the scope of the possible. This book covers the current clinically used anticancer agents that are either natural products or are clearly derived from natural product leads. It also reviews drug candidates currently in clinical development since many of these will be clinically used drugs in the future. Examples include the drugs etoposide and teniposide derived from the lead compound podophyllotoxin; numerous analogs derived from taxol; topotecan, derived from camptothecin; and the synthetic clinical candidates, E7389 and HTI-286, developed from the marine leads, halichondrin B and hemiasterlin.

Intraperitoneal Cancer Therapy: Principles and Practice is one of the first books to combine the latest clinical developments in the treatment of patients with peritoneal surface disease and the scientific principles that underlie the concept of intraperitoneal cancer therapy. The book covers basic concepts such as anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and mathematical models of drug transport as well as practical clinical applications, highlighted with results from clinical trials and promising novel preclinical developments. The book is a state-of-the-art reference for surgical and medical oncologists interested in the treatment of carcinomatosis. It also establishes and promotes basic and translational research interest in the field of intraperitoneal drug delivery, which has the potential to improve the outcome for this dreaded condition. Edited by two renowned surgical oncologists, it represents the definitive reference in the field of intraperitoneal cancer therapy.

A guide to state-of-the-art cancer immunotherapy in translational cancer research A volume in the Translational Oncology series, Immunotherapy in Translational Cancer Research explores the recent developments in the role that immunotherapy plays in the treatment of a wide range of cancers. The editors present key concepts, illustrative examples, and suggest alternative strategies in order to achieve individualized targeted therapy. Comprehensive in scope, Immunotherapy in Translational Cancer Research reviews the relevant history, current state, and the future of burgeoning cancer-fighting therapies. The book also includes critical information on drug development, clinical trials, and governmental resources and regulatory issues. Each chapter is created to feature: development of the immunotherapy; challenges that have been overcome in order to scale up and undertake clinical trials; and clinical experience and application of research. This authoritative volume is edited by a team of noted experts from MD Anderson Cancer Center, the world's foremost cancer research and care center and: Offers a comprehensive presentation of state-of-the-art cancer immunotherapy research that accelerates the pace of clinical cancer care Filled with the concepts, examples, and approaches for developing individualized therapy Explores the breath of treatments that reflect the complexity of the immune system itself Includes contributions from a panel international experts in the field of immunotherapy Designed for physicians, medical students, scientists, pharmaceutical executives, public health and public policy government leaders and community oncologists, this essential resource offers a guide to the bidirectional interaction between laboratory and clinic immunotherapy cancer research.

This timely new reference integrates the latest clinical results and laboratory studies on the resistance of specific cancers to chemotherapeutic drugs-covering drug resistance in lung, breast, ovary, and colon cancer as well as hematological malignancies.

Microspheres and Regional Cancer Therapy takes an interdisciplinary approach to the subject of microspheres and regional cancer therapy. It synthesizes laboratory and clinical data to demonstrate the utility of microsphere-based strategies in the treatment of localized solid tumors (particularly in the liver) not amenable to surgery and as a component of strategies for treatment of disseminated disease. Using the same techniques that show the deficiencies of delivery strategies involving antibodies, liposomes, and synthetic polymers, clear evidence is presented describing how microspheres of appropriate size can be localized in solid tumor deposits in the liver with little exposure to other organs. To exploit this phenomenon, the extent and nature of the incorporation of active agents within microspheres is discussed in relation to release, pharmacokinetics, and tumor response achieved by intensification of therapy in the manner described. This book will benefit laboratory-based scientists and clinicians in pharmaceutics, pharmacology, physiology, surgical oncology, and nuclear medicine. In addition, cancer clinicians interested in the value of regional therapy will be able to evaluate the underlying theory and learn the necessary methodology.

Covering all aspects of photodynamic therapy, 70 expert contributors from the fields of photochemistry, photobiology, photophysics, pharmacology, oncology and surgery, provide multidisciplinary discussions on photodynamic therapy - a rapidly-developing approach to the treatment of solid tumours.;Photodynamic Therapy: Basic Principles and Clinical Applications describes the molecular and cellular effects of photodynamic treatment; elucidates the complex events leading to photodynamics tissue destruction, particularly vascular and inflammatory responses; discusses the principles of light penetration through tissues and optical dosimetry; examines photosensitizer pharmacology and delivery systems; reviews in detail photosensitizer structure-activity relationships; illustrates novel devices that aid light dosimetry and fluorescence detection; and extensively delineates clinical applications, including early diagnosis and treatment.;A comprehensive and up-to-date reference, this book should be useful for oncologists, pharmacologists, surgeons, photobiologists, optical engineers, laser technicians, biologists, physicists, chemists and biochemists involved in cancer research, as well as graduate-level students in these disciplines.

Infectious Diseases: Smart Study Guide for Medical Students, Residents, Physicians and Clinical Pharmacists consolidates knowledge and information into a step-by-step process that is easy to understand, remember and apply in a clinical setting. The information presented is necessary for medical students and includes comprehensive coverage of the information needed during residency and beyond. The book's content is organized to provide an overview of microbiology and its different microbes. Diseases are discussed in-depth, including cause and microbe, thus guiding the audience from microbe recognition, disease diagnosis and treatments. This is the only book that can be used throughout the lifecycle of treatment. It is appropriate for medical students, residents, practicing physicians, and clinical pharmacists who need to understand the diagnosis, treatment and cure of infectious diseases.

Named after Selene, Greek goddess of the moon, selenium (Se) has moved has moved from being thought of as a toxicant to being considered an essential nutrient with the potential to reduce cancer risk in the span of seven decades. Diversity of Selenium Functions in Health and Disease focuses on current knowledge of aspects of Se research relevant to its medical use, and particularly to chemoprevention of cancer. It covers how Se is integrated into selenoproteins, selenium compounds with individual functions and dual functions, and unexpected links to Se such as with diabetes. The text ends with a discussion of polymorphisms and mutations in genes of selenoproteins. The chapters elucidate why studies undertaken to prevent diseases with selenium ended with disappointing outcomes and often with the opposite result, i.e. disease promotion. They show that benefit, failure, or side effects depend on: The chemical form and dose of selenium The selenium status of the individual ingesting selenium The capacity of selenium form to serve as a source for selenoprotein biosynthesis The function of selenoproteins reacting to a change in the selenium status The stage of the disease (mainly cancer) at the time point of intervention The genetic background of individuals to be treated Bringing together the accumulated evidence regarding selenium biochemistry, the book covers aspects not found in available general monographs. The narrow focus on medical uses of Se helps resolve the present confusion about potential benefits and hazards of selenium in human health. The book gives you a solid scientific basis for optimum use of selenium in preventing or treating human diseases and answering the questions: Why is selenium essential? How much is required? What are the health consequences of low selenium and can selenium reduce cancer risk?

There have been tremendous recent advances in the pharmacotherapy, dose regimens, and combinations used to treat cancer and for the treatment or prevention of the spread of disease. As a direct result of these advances, there are an increasing number of cancer survivors, although research dealing with chemotherapy-induced pain is still in its early years.

Written for pain management specialists, oncologists, pharmacologists, students, and primary care practitioners, Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathic Pain provides insight into the important area of chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain. It reviews the basic and clinical research into the normal physiology of pain transmission pathways, neuropathic pain pathology, the chemotherapeutic drug mechanisms of action and adverse effects, chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, and drug discovery efforts for treatment.

The contributors comprise an impressive list of clinical and basic science experts in the fields of pain mechanisms and pain management. Included are clinical directors of pain clinics and clinical research facilities, directors of large academic pain research laboratories, analgesic drug developers, and presidents of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP), Association of Chronic Pain Patients (ACPP), and the British Pain Society (BPS). Through them, the book provides the reader with an exceptional opportunity to acquire a fundamental understanding of the basic concepts related to this topic.

Taxol is arguably the most celebrated, talked about, and controversial natural product in recent years. Celebrated because of its efficacy as an anticancer drug and because its discovery has provided powerful support for policies concerned with biodiversity. Talked about because in the early 1990s the American public was bombarded with news reports about the molecule and its host, the slow-growing Pacific yew tree. Controversial because the drug and the yew tree became embroiled in several sensitive political issues with broad public policy implications. Taxol has revolutionized the treatment options for patients with advanced forms of breast and ovarian cancers and some types of leukemia; it shows promise for treating AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma. It is the best-selling anticancer drug ever, with world sales of $1.2 billion in 1998 and expected to grow. Goodman and Walsh's careful study of how taxol was discovered, researched, and brought to market documents the complexities and conflicting interests in the ongoing process to find effective treatments. From a broader perspective, The Story of Taxol uses the discovery and development of taxol as a paradigm to address current issues in the history and sociology of science and medicine. Jordan Goodman is a Senior Lecturer in History at the Manchester School of Management, University of Manchester Institute of Science & Technology. He has written on subjects as varied as the history of medicine and economic history for journal articles and in edited volumes. Goodman's previous books include Tobacco in History (Routledge, 1994) and Consuming Habits: Drugs in History and Anthropology (Routledge, 1995). Vivien Walsh is Reader in Technology Management at the Manchester School of Management, University of Manchester Institute of Science & Technology. She has been researching the pharmaceutical and chemical industry for years and is currently working on globalization of innovative activity in the face of technological and organizational changes in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and agro-food industries. Walsh has been a consultant to the European Commission and to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Offering the most current and complete coverage of nucleoside analog activity in oncology and hematology, this single-source volume includes topics from pharmacology to previously unpublished clinical findings on the pivotal role of fludarabine, cladribine, and pentostatin in the management of diseases, such as chronic lymphocytic and hairy cell leukemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, membranous nephropathy, and rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis.

The development of drug-resistant cancers is considered to be the most significant obstacle to the cure of cancer today. Nearly half of all patients with cancer suffer from tumours that are intrinsically resistant to chemotherapy, and most of the remaining half develop drug resistance during the course of their treatment. This book reviews the mechanisms and clinical implications of drug resistance in cancer with unrivalled authority. Chapters cover topics of current clinical concern, including multiple drug resistance and its reversal, topoisomerase drugs, apoptosis, dose intensity and escalation, gene therapy and haematopoietic support. The authors are among the leading clinicians and investigators in the field. These authoritative volumes in this series are intended for a wide audience of clinicians and researchers with an interest in the applications of biomedical science to the understanding and management of cancer.

Multiple Myeloma (MM) is the second most common type of blood cancer, resulting from an overproduction of cancerous infection-fighting white blood cells, known as plasma cells. Plasma cells are a crucial part of the immune system responsible for the production of antibodies. Bortezomib is a promising anticancer drug targeting the proteasome. This proteasome inhibitor induces cell stress and apoptosis in the cancer cells. While multiple mechanisms are likely to be involved, proteasome inhibition may prevent the degradation of pro-apoptotic factors, permitting activation of programmed cell death in neoplastic cells dependent upon the suppression of proapoptotic pathways. This monograph on bortezomib is a valuable source of information for researchers and clinicians from the fields of oncology and pharmacology, working either in academia or the pharmaceutical industry.

Biostatistics for Oncologists is the first practical guide providing the essential biostatistical concepts, oncology-specific examples, and applicable problem sets for medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and surgical oncologists. The book also serves as a review for medical oncology and radiation oncology residents or fellows preparing for in-service and board exams. All examples are relevant to oncology and demonstrate how to apply core conceptual knowledge and applicable methods related to hypothesis testing, correlation and regression, categorical data analysis and survival analysis to the field of oncology. The book also provides guidance on the fundamentals of study design and analysis. Written for oncologists by oncologists, this practical text demystifies challenging statistical concepts and provides concise direction on how to interpret, analyze, and critique data in oncology publications, as well as how to apply statistical knowledge to understanding, designing, and analyzing clinical trials. With practical problem sets and twenty-five multiple choice practice questions with answers, the book is an indispensable review for anyone preparing for in-service exams, boards, MOC, or looking to hone a lifelong skill. Key Features: Practically explains biostatistics concepts important for passing the hematology, medical oncology, and radiation oncology boards and MOC exams. Provides guidance on how to read, understand, and critique data in oncology publications. Gives relevant examples that are important for analyzing data in oncology, including the design and analysis of clinical trials. Tests your comprehension of key biostatistical concepts with problem sets at the end of each section and a final section devoted to board-style multiple choice questions and answers Includes digital access to the eBook

Molecular Therapies of Cancer comprehensively covers the molecular mechanisms of anti-cancer drug actions in a comparably systematic fashion. While there is currently available a great deal of literature on anti-cancer drugs, books on the subject are often concoctions of invited review articles superficially connected to one another. There is a lack of comprehensive and systematic text on the topic of molecular therapies in cancer. A further deficit in the relevant literature is a progressive sub-specialization that typically limits textbooks on cancer drugs to cover either pharmacology or medicinal chemistry or signal transduction, rather than explaining molecular drug actions across all those areas; Molecular Therapies of Cancer fills this void. The book is divided into five sections: 1. Molecular Targeting of Cancer Cells; 2. Emerging and Alternative Treatment Modalities; 3. Molecular Targeting of Tumor-Host Interactions; 4. Anti-Cancer Drug Pharmacokinetics; and 5. Supportive Therapies.

Originally published in 1946, this volume contains the text of the Linacre Lecture delivered on 6 May of that year by Sir Alexander Fleming on the subject of chemotherapy's application to bacterial infections. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in medical history.

This book provides an up-to-date review of recently identified natural anti-tumor compounds from various natural origins including plants, fungi, endophytic fungi and marine organisms. It also includes discussion of new areas such as biotechnology and nanoparticles. Chapters explain the challenges and developments in anti-cancer drug discovery approaches, traditional remedies for prevention and treatment of cancer, marine-derived anti-cancer compounds, and antibiotics used as anti-cancer agents, as well as different classes of terpenoids and carbohydrates, which have been the subject of discussion in this field as efficient anti-cancer candidates. This book will be a concise guide for researchers in the field of pharmaceutical sciences, students and residents in pharmacy and medicine as well as those researching phytochemistry and natural products.