Provided here is a comprehensive examination of the basic and clinical condition of three innovative and promising approaches to cancer therapy, which may support or even substitute chemotherapy: differentiation, immunomodulation, and inhibition of angiogenesis. Differentiation shouldnormalize neoplastic cells and make them compatible with the host. Its feasibility with retinoids, interferons, chemotherapeutic and other agents is discussed. Modulation by biological agents, cytotoxic effector cells and drugs is considered in attempts to boost endogenous antitumour defenses and/or to render neoplastic cells more susceptible to the immune attack of the host. Finally, the important aspect of interfering with tumour blood vessel development and function is taken into account. Consideringthe importance that chemotherapy has in cancer treatment and in view of a more and more integrated strategy, the relationship between the aforementioned approaches and chemotherapeutic agents and chemoresistance is treated in detail.

Inhalt

Colon cancer cell differentiation as related to methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil resistance.- The control of cell multiplication and differentiation in human myelomonocytic cells.- Signal transduction through the Epstein-Barr virus receptor in human B lymphocytes.- Signal transduction mechanisms as a target for cancer chemotherapy.- Therapeutic approaches for colon cancer based on transcriptional regulation of specific growth factors.- Interferon regulation of differentiation and mechanisms.- Induction of tumor cell differentiation as a mechanism of action of DNA-specific antitumor agents.- ATRA therapy in acute promyelocytic leukemia. A model for differentiation therapy.- Hemin is transported in human leukemia K562 cells and interacts with DNA sequences.- Immunomodulation by anticancer drugs in therapeutics.- Differential effects of low doses of structurally different anthracyclines on immunoglobulin production by mouse hybridoma B cells.- Chemical xenogenization of experimental tumors by antineoplastic drugs.- Reversal of drug resistance: synergistic anti-tumor cytotoxic activity by combination treatment with drug and TNF or toxins.- Immunomodulation in cancer patients treated with interleukin-2. Induction of non-specific and specific immune responses.- Potential role of tumor cell antigen modulation in cancer immunotherapy.- Effects of tumor necrosis factor-alpha on growth and doxorubicin sensitivity of multidrug resistant tumor cell lines.- Activation of macrophages by treatment of rat peritoneal cells with photofrin II and He-Ne laser 209.- Synergistic interaction between simvastatin and antineoplastic drugs on glioma cell growth.- CNS and cardiovascular effects of TNF-alpha.- Angiogenesis and angiogenesis factors in stages of carcinogenesis.- Cytokine regulation of tumor-associated macrophages: therapeutic implications.- The mechanism of lectin-mediated adhesion of human ovarian carcinoma cells.- Inhibitory effect of suramin and heparin-like drugs on experimental angiogenesis.- Role of gangliosides in the modulation of the angiogenic response.