[Prospects of molecular pharmacology in oncology]

The evaluation of the precise mechanism of action of a new anticancer agent is a crucial step for a better utilization of drugs in cancer therapy. The increased knowledge of the molecular alterations present in different tumors, combined with the identification of the intracellular targets of a drug is the initial step for the possible, future molecular-oriented chemotherapy. It is in fact possible now to know if and how a given drug is able to interact with DNA and if the DNA sequence is a key factor in determining such interaction. Drugs are available with high sequence specificity of DNA interaction and these results, combined with the knowledge of the DNA sequences important for the regulation of gene expression, can help in identifying possible intracellular targets of the drugs. The recent introduction of the microarray technology has changed our approach to the study of drug effects on gene expression. In a single experiment is possible to identify changes in gene expression of plenty of genes and to have information on the alterations in the expression of gene families. These studies, combined to the effects on proteins involved in cell cycle control and in the induction of apoptosis, allow a better understanding of the interaction between drugs and cellular control mechanisms.