title: Strategy and tactics of chemotherapeutic drug development.
abstract: Strategic approaches to generating chemotherapeutically active lead compounds are either empirical as in traditional synthetic programs or in the search for antibiotics; they are semiempirical as concerns the design of antimetabolites and more rational for the design of DNA-complexing drugs. The tactics of exploitation of active lead compounds in chemotherapeutic drug development involve molecular modification. This aims at either substances with greater activity and/or substances with improved pharmacokinetic parameters. From quantitative structure-activity relationships one might extrapolate to members of a chemical series with improved pharmacokinetic properties. Scientific advances render chemotherapy research more predictive and, hence, less empirical.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000963:Antimetabolites; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004358:Drug Therapy; D006801:Humans; D011955:Receptors, Drug; D012107:Research Design; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000963:Antimetabolites; D011955:Receptors, Drug; D004247:DNA