ABSTRACT
One of the greatest challenges in the discovery and development of new therapies and strategies for the treatment of cancer is the achievement of selectivity between tumor cells and healthy tissues. Many of the different drug classes described in this book, such as the molecularly targeted agents (see Chapter 6) and antibody therapies (see Chapter 7), were designed to target a signaling pathway or a receptor and/or its ligand. However, researchers have developed alternative methods to target tumor cells which provide the basis of this chapter. After an overview of the different targeting strategies, each one is then described in detail. These include vascular-targeting and hypoxia-based strategies, enzyme-based approaches, nanoparticles and conjugate technologies, photoactivated therapies, ultrasound ablation and electromagnetic approaches, radioactive nanoparticles, intracranial delivery, and boron neutron capture therapy. Approved therapies and agents within each of these areas are described in detail along with information relating to their discovery, the mechanism of action, clinical activity, and mechanism-based toxicity. Where relevant, prominent clinical-stage experimental agents are also described.
