title: New anticancer agents in clinical development.
abstract: A better understanding of the biology and biochemistry of the cancer cell has led to the development of various promising new antineoplastic compounds that are now undergoing phase I, II, and III clinical testing. These drugs include topoisomerase I inhibitors, such as camptothecin and its analogs 9-aminocamptothecin, irinotecan, and topotecan; the paclitaxel analog docetaxel; gemcitabine, an antimetabolite structurally related to cytarabine; and fluorouracil prodrugs and other thymidylate synthase (TS) inhibitors. Another exciting approach to cancer treatment is the use of agents that induce a less malignant state by altering cellular phenotype. Such agents include angiogenesis inhibitors, differentiating agents, signal transduction inhibitors, and gene therapy.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Therapy and Research Center, Institute for Drug Development, San Antonio, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eckardt
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Eckhardt
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Villalona-Calero
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Drengler
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Von Hoff
mesh_terms: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D017321:Clinical Trials, Phase I as Topic; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D004264:DNA Topoisomerases, Type I / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011355:Prodrugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D043823:Taxoids; D013940:Thymidylate Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D059004:Topoisomerase I Inhibitors; D019772:Topotecan; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D011355:Prodrugs; D043823:Taxoids; D059004:Topoisomerase I Inhibitors; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000077143:Docetaxel; C080125:9-aminocamptothecin; D000077146:Irinotecan; D019772:Topotecan; D013940:Thymidylate Synthase; D004264:DNA Topoisomerases, Type I; D017239:Paclitaxel; D005472:Fluorouracil; D002166:Camptothecin; D000093542:Gemcitabine