Cell membranes as targets for anti-cancer drug action

A variety of studies strongly hint that cell membranes can be important targets for new and existing anti-tumor drugs. Traditionally, the search for new anti-cancer agents has focused on compounds designed to act on the biosynthesis, stability or function of DNA; it may be timely, however, to broaden our search horizon and consider targets outside of the nucleus. Thus, the cell membrane as well as membraneous organelles may well play a key role in the future of anti-tumor drug development.