title: Molecular characterization as a target for cancer therapy in relation to orphan status disorders (Review).
abstract: The long-term effort in investigating chemical methods to eliminate only cancer cells has improved our knowledge and has led to the development of new drugs. The targets for cancer treatment may be large polymeric molecules such as DNA or microtubules as well as regulatory pathways for tumor development and cell survival preservation or tyrosine kinase activity. Examples of new agents are: trastuzumab (Herceptin), a humanized monoclonal antibody that blocks the HER-2/neu proto-oncogene in combination with cytotoxic agents, is used in a percentage of breast cancer patients; signal transduction inhibitor of abl tyrosine kinase STI 571 (Glivec) has been shown to be an active treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia and GISTs; epidermal growth factor receptors in certain tumors have been targeted with agents such as C225 (Cetuximab) and ZD 1839 (IRESSA); an adenosine deaminase analogue of deoxyadenosine, Cladribine (2-chloro-2 deoxy-adenosine) has shown high effectiveness in hairy-cell leukemia and the multitargeted antifolate (Premetrexed) and several vaccines have been studied and are in clinical trials for resistant cancers. These new drug developments represent a promising field for future cancer management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, 2nd Medical Division, Hippokration Hospital, University of Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Stathopoulos
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001549:Benzamides; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005493:Folic Acid Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018773:Genes, erbB-1 / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D005493:Folic Acid Antagonists; C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; D010879:Piperazines; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases