[New basis for development of anticancer drugs].
Our increased knowledge of basic molecular mechanisms involved in the growth and spreading of cancer has provided a new basis for development of anticancer drugs. As an example, matrix degrading protease systems are discussed, in particular the urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) system in which inhibition of binding of uPA to its cellular receptor is an attractive target. However, biologically based drugs can in general be expected to present the same problems as conventional drugs, including toxic side effects due to the role of their targets under normal conditions, and development of resistance which among other mechanisms can be due to a widespread functional overlap, e.g. between different matrix degrading protease systems. Many still unexploited promising biological targets for cancer therapy are known and it is likely that a systematic, goal oriented research will result in many new drugs. These drugs may individually not necessarily be more effective than the conventional drugs, but they will, due to their different mechanisms of action, be well suited for use in combination with these.
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H:S Rigshospitalet, Finsenscentret, Finsenlaboratoriet.
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D001702:Biopharmaceutics; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D006801:Humans; D007414:Intestinal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D011955:Receptors, Drug / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000378:metabolism
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011955:Receptors, Drug; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator