title: Drug design strategies for the treatment of prostate cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  While metastatic prostate cancer remains an incurable tumor, remarkable progress has been made with novel drug design strategies for this incurable disease. Several new agents, including hormonal analogues, cytotoxic chemotherapy drugs, radionuclides and innovative targeted therapies, have recently been approved by the FDA for use in advanced and/or metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer. Furthermore, a growing number of new diagnostic or predictive genetic tests have also been incorporated into the management of this disease. Immunotherapy-based approaches have shown promise and have led to drug approvals. Other experimental approaches such as vascular targeting are in early translational clinical trials.
  
  
  METHODS
  Herein, the authors outline select state-of-the-art approaches in the field. They also discuss the current challenges and future opportunities in the medical care of prostate cancer patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An inherent challenge in the treatment of prostate cancer is to determine which patients need immediate aggressive treatment versus active surveillance. For patients needing aggressive treatment, integrating the sequence of therapeutic interventions, to provide the most benefit, remains a challenge that clinicians face. Recently, several genetic tests have been approved, facilitating early treatment decisions. Innovative targeted therapies are moving towards clinical applications, providing treatment options for tumors previously considered refractory to androgen ablation treatment.
authors.affiliation: University of New Mexico Cancer Center, Division of Hematology/Oncology, UNM CC Molecular Medicine , MSC07 4025, Albuquerque, 87131 , USA.
authors.forename: Richard C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Lauer
authors.forename: Sarah C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Friend
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rietz
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pasqualini
authors.forename: Wadih
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Arap
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D064129:Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal
keywords: androgen-deprivation therapy; chemotherapy; drug design; immunotherapy; prostate cancer; radionuclides; vascular targeting