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Cancer

Cancer

Cancers arise due to mutations in genes involved in the regulation of cell division, which leads to unrestricted cell proliferation. Modern science and medicine have made great strides in the understanding and treatment of cancer, including eradicating cancer in some patients. However, there is still no cure for cancer. This is largely due to the fact that cancer is a large group of many diseases.

Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules

Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules

Microtubules are dynamic structures that undergo cycles of catastrophe and rescue. The microtubules play a central role in cell division by forming the spindle apparatus for segregating the chromosomes. This makes them ideal targets for regulating dividing cells in tumors and malignant cancer cells. Microtubule stabilizing drugs help stabilize the microtubule formation and promote its polymerization. Paclitaxel was the first microtubule stabilizing agent used as anticancer drug in chemotherapy...

Targeted Cancer Therapies

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...

Drugs that Destabilize Microtubules

Drugs that Destabilize Microtubules

Microtubules are dynamic structures and can be regulated by microtubule targeting agents (MTAs). Microtubule destabilizing drugs are a class of MTAs that destabilize and prevent microtubules' polymerization. Both natural and synthetic chemicals can be found under this class of drugs. Vincristine and vinblastine, two vinca alkaloids, and colchicine were among the first to be discovered. These drugs can affect cells in various ways, either by inducing a change in cell morphology, preventing...

Targeted Cancer Therapies

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 19, 2026

Polymalic Acid-based Nano Biopolymers for Targeting of Multiple Tumor Markers: An Opportunity for Personalized Medicine?

Polymalic Acid-based Nano Biopolymers for Targeting of Multiple Tumor Markers: An Opportunity for Personalized Medicine?

Published on: June 13, 2014

Small molecule anticancer drugs.

¹CRC Centre for Cancer Therapeutics, Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, SM2 5NG, Surrey, United Kingdom. lloyd@icr.ac.uk

Idrugs : the Investigational Drugs Journal

|August 30, 2005

Summary

New cancer drugs target specific molecules like farnesyl transferase and cyclin-dependent kinases (cdk). While some show promise, further research is needed to confirm target specificity and optimize therapies for better antitumor activity.

Area of Science:

Oncology
Pharmacology
Molecular Biology

Background:

Intensive drug discovery efforts are underway to develop more selective cancer therapies.
Advances in molecular understanding of cancer reveal new potential drug targets.
Current challenges include confirming in vivo target specificity and managing dose-limiting toxicities.

Purpose of the Study:

To review emerging molecular targets and drug candidates in cancer therapy.
To highlight the progress and challenges of farnesyl transferase and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors.
To identify potential new cancer therapies in preclinical development.

Main Methods:

Review of ongoing clinical trials for novel cancer therapeutics.
Analysis of preclinical research on molecular targets such as telomerase, MDM2, and c-Raf.

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Assessment of drug efficacy and toxicity data from early-phase trials.

Main Results:

Farnesyl transferase inhibitors (R115777, L778123) entered Phase I with dose-limiting myelosuppression; R115777 showed antitumor activity.
A broad-spectrum cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) inhibitor, flavopiridol, is entering Phase II trials.
Concerns exist regarding the in vivo target specificity of current broad-spectrum inhibitors.

Conclusions:

Selective inhibitors targeting specific molecular pathways represent a promising direction in cancer drug discovery.
Further development of selective cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors is ongoing.
Preclinical investigations into targets like telomerase, MDM2, and c-Raf may yield novel cancer therapies within five years.