In recent years an entirely new category of anticancer agents has entered the clinic. This class of drugs, the frontrunners of which are Herceptin and Gleevec, are no longer a product of the intuitive and largely empirical explorations that brought about traditional anticancer treatments like chemotherapy. Rather, these new agents have emerged directly from molecular analysis of various cancer-causing genes (oncogenes). In Oncogene-Directed Therapies, prominent investigators and clinicians, several of them pioneers in the field, summarize what is known about oncogenes and oncogenesis-in a balanced blend of fundamental science, basic research, experimental therapeutics, and early clinical experience-and describe how that knowledge can be used to treat the disease. The contributors explain how, why, and under what conditions certain proteins acquire the ability to transform eukaryotic cells, and detail the crucial biological consequences of this oncogenic transformation, particularly for cellular mitogenesis, survival, differentiation, migration, proteolysis, or angiogenic competence. Their articles thoroughly explicate the premises, principles, techniques, and approaches to oncogene targeting in various types of human cancer by using signal transduction inhibitors, immunological targeting methods, and antisense gene therapy. Also included is a review of the results of preclinical and clinical testing of some of today's most advanced therapeutic agents.
Unique in perspective and comprehensive in its coverage, Oncogene-Directed Therapies not only integrates for all those engaged in-or simply interested in the cutting-edge of-"the war on cancer" the many remarkable recent achievements in our molecular understanding and treatment of these diseases, but also clarifies what directions future research might optimally take, as well as what significant accomplishments might lie ahead.

Klappentext

Prominent investigators and clinicians summarize in a balanced blend of fundamental science, basic research, experimental therapeutics, and early clinical experiences, what is known about oncogenes and oncogenesis, and describe how that knowledge can be used to treat the cancer. The contributors explain how, why, and under what conditions certain proteins acquire the ability to transform eukaryotic cells, and detail the crucial biological consequences of this oncogenic transformation, particularly for cellular mitogenesis, survival, differentiation, migration, proteolysis, or angiogenic competence. Their articles thoroughly explicate the premises, principles, techniques, and approaches to oncogene targeting in various types of human cancer by using signal transduction inhibitors, immunological targeting methods, and antisense gene therapy.

Inhalt

Part I. Basic Concepts in Oncogene Research Genetic Basis of Cancer Progression Susan J. Done and Jeremy A. Squire The Molecular Basis of Chromosomal Instability in Human Cancer Cells Daniel P. Cahill Signal Transduction Networks: Ras as a Paradigm Frank McCormick Oncogenic Receptor Tyrosine Kinases Mark H. Kirschbaum, Mina D. Marmor, and Yosef Yarden Ras-Mediated Deregulation of Gene Expression and Contribution to Oncogenesis Gretchen A. Murphy and Channing J. Der The Interplay Between Tumor Suppressor Genes and Oncogenes in Tumorigenesis Eric C. Holland Genetic Basis of Altered Responsiveness of Cancer Cells to Their Microenvironment Amato J. Giaccia Part II. The Functional Impact of Oncogene Expression on Cancer Cells-Therapeutic Implications Deregulation of Cell Cycle Progression by Oncogenic Transformation Marcelo L. Rodriguez-Puebla, Adrian M. Senderowicz, and Claudio J. Conti Oncogenes as Regulators of Cell Survival: The Role of Oncogenes and Tumor Suppressor Genes in the Induction of Resistance to Anoikis and Hypoxia Kirill Rosen and Jorge Filmus Oncogenes and Tumor Angiogenesis Janusz Rak and Robert S. Kerbel Oncogenes as Therapeutic Targets to Prevent Metastasis Ann F. Chambers and Hemanth J. Varghese The Impact of Oncogenes on Tumor Maintenance Senji Shirasawa and Takehiko Sasazuki Primary and Secondary Events in Oncogene-Driven Tumor Development: Lessons from Transgenic Model Systems Michaela Herzig and Gerhard Christofori Part III. Oncogenes as Targets for Anticancer Therapy In Vivo Targeting Oncogenes in Hematopoietic Malignancies Michael E. O'Dwyer and Brian J. Druker Clinical Evaluation of Agents Targeting Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) in Cancer Edward H. Lin and James L. Abbruzzese Inhibition of the HER-2/neu Oncogene: A Translational Research Model for the Development of Future Targeted Therapies Gottfried E. Konecny, Jane Arboleda, Dennis J. Slamon, and Mark Pegram Farnesyltransferase Inhibitors as Anticancer Agents Adrienne D. Cox Targeting Oncogenic Signaling Pathways in Human Astrocytomas Gelareh Zadeh and Abhijit Guha Targeting Oncogenes in Pediatric Malignancies Giannoula Klement and Robert S. Kerbel Inhibiting Signal Transduction as an Approach to Radiosensitizing Tumor Cells Eric J. Bernhard, Anjali K. Gupta, Elizabeth Cohen-Jonathan, Ruth J. Muschel, Stephen M. Hahn, and W. Gillies McKenna Oncogenes as Targets for Cancer Vaccines Samir N. Khleif and Joseph A. Lucci, III Bcl-2 Antisense Oligonucleotides Therapy for Cancer: Targeting the Mitochondria Finbarr E. Cotter and Dean A. Fennell Index