[Supragenomic strategies. Cancer research after HUGO]

Vast knowledge concerning genetic alterations in cancer cells has accumulated in recent years. The results raise hopes of better and more refined therapy. However, some researchers fear that it will take a long time until we get the main picture using a reductionistic approach. The hallmark of cancer is genomic instability. Other research groups use supragenomic strategies and focus on the interactions between tumor cells and cells of the surrounding stroma, e.g. inhibition of angiogenesis, production of extracellular proteases and activation of growth factors. Tumor cells are also dependent on proteoglycans and in many cases specific forms with specific degradation pathways dominate. Proteoglycans control growth factor activity and polyamine uptake. Proteoglycans are suitable targets for antitumor therapy because they are supragenomic products and their biosynthesis can be manipulated with xylosides.