There have been tremendous advances in our understanding of molecular and tumor biology during the past few years. In the field of cancer therapeutics, it is expected that cytotoxic drug approaches will be gradually replaced with treatments based on biological targeted approaches. Hopefully these new targeted therapies will significantly increase efficacy and lack the devastating and troublesome side effects elicited by cytotoxic chemotherapy. This volume is the first book to cover the general topic of targeted cancer therapy. It presents a range of targets such as tumor angiogenesis, cell cycle control and cell signalling, COX-2, apoptosis/cell survival, invasion and metastasis and approaches like kinase inhibitors, antisense, and antibody-based therapeutics. The emphasis is on preclinical development, including target validation, development of biomarkers, strategies for combination approaches, and development of resistance. The particular challenges involved in translating these data to clinical application are discussed. This volume should be of broad general interest to researchers and clinicians involved in cancer therapy as well as other scientists interested in current strategies for cancer treatment.

From the contents: Foreword.- Dawn of a new era in molecular cancer therapeutics.- Obstacles and opportunities in the clinical development of targeted agents.- Tumor models for preclinical development of targeted agents.- Angiogenesis inhibitors: what is the clinical future?- Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhihitors in cancer therapy.- Cell survival signaling during apoptosis: implications in drug resistance and anti-cancer therapeutic development.- Targeted histone deacetylase inhibition for cancer prevention and therapy.- Inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinase modulators for cancer therapy.- Targeting cyclooxygenase-2 for cancer prevention and treatment.- Antisense approaches in drug discovery and development.- Preclinical development of alimta (Pemetrexed, LY231514), a multitargeted antifolate.- Index.