Smart drugs in prostate cancer
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Updated: Aug 29, 2026
A Bioluminescent and Fluorescent Orthotopic Syngeneic Murine Model of Androgen-dependent and Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer
Published on: March 6, 2018
1Department Urology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. h.vd.poel@nki.nl
Objectives:
Growth signaling is instrumental in tumor development. Insight into signaling pathways by molecular and cellular biology has changed the development of new anticancer agents. Outside the field of urology specifically targeted drugs such as imatinib mesylate and gefitinib showed impressive anticancer activity in chronic myeloid leukemia and non-small cell lung cancer, respectively.
Methods:
Literature search of PubMed documented publications and abstracts from meetings.
Results:
Preclinical data in prostate cancer shows upregulation of a wide variety of growth factors and their receptors such as PDGF, EGF, IGF, FGF, and VEGF suggesting efficacy of agents targeting these pathways. Here the preclinical evidence and first clinical data on the use of growth signal targeting in prostate cancer is reviewed. Although some anticancer efficacy of signal transduction inhibition monotherapy was reported, combination with chemotherapy and radiotherapy seemed most promising in prostate cancer.
Conclusion:
So-called smart drugs are small molecules targeted at specific growth signaling pathways. These new drugs will dominate clinical trials in the years to come either as single-drug modality, but more likely as combination treatment.
Insights
Targeted therapies, or "smart drugs," show promise in treating prostate cancer by inhibiting growth signaling pathways. Combination treatments with chemotherapy and radiotherapy appear most effective, dominating future clinical trials.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Growth signaling pathways are crucial in tumor development.
- Targeted therapies have demonstrated success in other cancers, such as imatinib mesylate for chronic myeloid leukemia and gefitinib for non-small cell lung cancer.
- Understanding these pathways has led to the development of novel anticancer agents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review preclinical evidence and initial clinical data on growth signal targeting in prostate cancer.
- To explore the efficacy of agents targeting specific growth factors and their receptors in prostate cancer treatment.
Main Methods:
- Literature search of PubMed-documented publications.
- Inclusion of abstracts from scientific meetings.
Main Results:
- Preclinical data indicates upregulation of growth factors (e.g., PDGF, EGF, IGF, FGF, VEGF) and their receptors in prostate cancer.
- Signal transduction inhibition monotherapy showed some anticancer efficacy.
- Combination therapy with chemotherapy and radiotherapy demonstrated the most promising results in prostate cancer.
Conclusions:
- Targeted drugs, or "smart drugs," are small molecules designed to inhibit specific growth signaling pathways.
- These targeted therapies are expected to be central to future clinical trials.
- Combination treatments are likely to be more effective than single-drug modalities for prostate cancer.
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