The Oncogenomics Handbook


Book Description

An integrated overview of cancer drug discovery and development from the bench to the clinic, showing with broad strokes and representative examples the drug development process as a network of linked components leading from the discovered target to the ultimate therapeutic product. Following a systems biology approach, the authors explain genomic databases and how to discover oncological targets from them, how then to advance from the gene and transcript to the level of protein biochemistry, how next to move from the chemical realm to that of the living cell and, ultimately, pursue animal modeling and clinical development. Emerging cancer therapeutics including Ritux an, Erbitux, Gleevec Herceptin, Avastin, ABX-EGF, Velcade, Kepivance, Iressa, Tarceva, and Zevalin are addressed. Highlights include cancer genomics, pharmacogenomics, transcriptomics, gene expression analysis, proteomic and enzymatic cancer profiling technologies, and cellular and animal approaches to cancer target validation.




Oncogenomics


Book Description

This book aims to assemble the only available rigorous, yet broadly accessible introduction to this new and exciting field. Oncogenomics: Molecular Approaches to Cancer is approachable by basic scientists, practitioners, and other health professionals required to familiarize themselves with the tremendous impact of genomics and proteomics on cancer research. Clearly written chapters offer reviews of state of the art topics such as molecular classification, early detection, SNPs in cancer, data mining, tissue microarrays, protein and antibody arrays, and drug targets.




Handbook of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology


Book Description

Edited by renowned protein scientist and bestselling author Roger L. Lundblad, with the assistance of Fiona M. Macdonald of CRC Press, this fourth edition of the Handbook of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology represents a dramatic revision — the first in two decades — of one of biochemistry's most referenced works. This edition gathers a wealth of information not easily obtained, including information not found on the web. Offering a molecular perspective not available 20 years ago, it provides physical and chemical data on proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and carbohydrates. Presented in an organized, concise, and simple-to-use format, this popular reference allows quick access to the most frequently used data. Covering a wide range of topics, from classical biochemistry to proteomics and genomics, it also details the properties of commonly used biochemicals, laboratory solvents, and reagents. Just a small sampling of the wealth of information found inside the handbook: Buffers and buffer solutions Heat capacities and combustion levels Reagents for the chemical modification of proteins Comprehensive classification system for lipids Biological characteristics of vitamins A huge variety of UV data Recommendations for nomenclature and tables in biochemical thermodynamics Guidelines for NMR measurements for determination of high and low pKa values Viscosity and density tables Chemical and physical properties of various commercial plastics Generic source-based nomenclature for polymers Therapeutic enzymes About the Editors: Roger L. Lundblad, Ph.D. Roger L. Lundblad is a native of San Francisco, California. He received his undergraduate education at Pacific Lutheran University and his PhD degree in biochemistry at the University of Washington. After postdoctoral work in the laboratories of Stanford Moore and William Stein at the Rockefeller University, he joined the faculty of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He joined the Hyland Division of Baxter Healthcare in 1990. Currently Dr. Lundblad is an independent consultant and writer in biotechnology in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He is an adjunct Professor of Pathology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Editor-in-Chief of the Internet Journal of Genomics and Proteomics. Fiona M. Macdonald, Ph.D., F.R.S.C. Fiona M. Macdonald received her BSc in chemistry from Durham University, UK. She obtained her PhD in inorganic biochemistry at Birkbeck College, University of London, studying under Peter Sadler. Having spent most of her career in scientific publishing, she is now at Taylor and Francis and is involved in developing chemical information products.




Bone Metastasis


Book Description

A state-of-the-art review of the molecular underpinnings of bone-seeking cancers, current treatment approaches for them, and future therapeutic strategies. The authors illuminate the role of various autocrine, paracrine, and immunological factors involved in the progression and establishment of bone metastases, highlighting the physiological processes that lead to bone degradation, pain, angiogenesis, and dysregulation of bone turnover. They also discuss the various strategies that appear to have promise and are currently deployed in treatment or are at the experimental stage.




Cancer Chemoprevention


Book Description

Despite significant advances in cancer treatment and measures of neoplastic progression, drug effect (or early detection, overall cancer incidence has increased, pharmacodynamic markers), and markers that measure cancer-associated morbidity is considerable, and overall prognosis as well as predict responses to specific therapy. cancer survival has remained relatively flat over the past All these biomarkers have the potential to greatly augment several decades (1,2). However, new technology the development of successful chemoprevention therapies, allowing exploration of signal transduction pathways, but two specific types of biomarkers will have the most identification of cancer-associated genes, and imaging of immediate impact on successful chemopreventive drug tissue architecture and molecular and cellular function is development—those that measure the risk of developing increasing our understanding of carcinogenesis and cancer invasive life-threatening disease, and those whose mo- progression. This knowledge is moving the focus of cancer lation can “reasonably predict” clinical benefit and, therapeutics, including cancer preventive treatments, to therefore, serve as surrogate endpoints for later-occurring drugs that take advantage of cellular control mechanisms clinical disease. Thus far, the biomarker that best measures to selectively suppress cancer progression. these two phenomena is intraepithelial neoplasia (IEN) Carcinogenesis is now visualized as a multifocal, because it is a near obligate precursor to cancer.




Protein Tyrosine Kinases


Book Description

Leading researchers, from the Novartis group that pioneered Gleevec/GlivecTM and around the world, comprehensively survey the state of the art in the drug discovery processes (bio- and chemoinformatics, structural biology, profiling, generation of resistance, etc.) aimed at generating PTK inhibitors for the treatment of various diseases, including cancer. Highlights include a discussion of the rationale and the progress made towards generating "selective" low molecular-weight kinase inhibitors; an analysis of the normal function, role in disease, and application of platelet-derived growth factor antagonists; and a summary of the factors involved in successful structure-based drug design. Additional chapters address the advantages and disadvantages of in vivo preclinical models for testing protein kinase inhibitors with antitumor activity and the utility of different methods in the drug discovery and development process for determining "on-target" vs "off-target" effects of kinase inhibitors.




The Handbook of Metabonomics and Metabolomics


Book Description

Molecular biology operates at three levels – genes, proteins and metabolites. This book is unique in that it provides a comprehensive description of an approach (metabonomics) to characterise the endogenous metabolites in a living system, complementing gene and protein studies (genomics and proteomics). These "omics" methods form the basis for understanding biology at a systems level. The Handbook of Metabonomics and Metabolomics aims to be the definitive work on the rapidly expanding subjects of metabolic profiling, metabolite and biomarker identification, encompassing the fields of metabonomics and metabolomics. It covers the principles of the subject, the analytical and statistical techniques used and the wide variety of applications.* comprehensive description of an approach (metabonomics) to characterise the endogenous metabolites in a living system, complementing gene and protein studies* aims to be the definitive work on the rapidly expanding subjects of metabolic profiling, metabolite and biomarker identification* covers the principles of the subject, the analytical and statistical techniques used and the wide variety of applications.




Cancer Drug Resistance


Book Description

Leading experts summarize and synthesize the latest discoveries concerning the changes that occur in tumor cells as they develop resistance to anticancer drugs, and suggest new approaches to preventing and overcoming it. The authors review physiological resistance based upon tumor architecture, cellular resistance based on drug transport, epigenetic changes that neutralize or bypass drug cytotoxicity, and genetic changes that alter drug target molecules by decreasing or eliminating drug binding and efficacy. Highlights include new insights into resistance to antiangiogenic therapies, oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in therapeutic resistance, cancer stem cells, and the development of more effective therapies. There are also new findings on tumor immune escape mechanisms, gene amplification in drug resistance, the molecular determinants of multidrug resistance, and resistance to taxanes and Herceptin.




Immunotherapy of Cancer


Book Description

Expert bench and clinical scientists join forces to concurrently review both the state-of-the-art in tumor immunology and its clinical translation into promising practical treatments. The authors explain in each chapter the scientific basis behind such therapeutic agents as monoclonal antibodies, cytokines, vaccines, and T-cells, and illustrate their clinical manipulation to combat cancer. Additional chapters address statistical analysis-both of clinical trials and assay evaluations-methods for the discovery of antigens, adoptive T cell therapy, and adaptive and innate immunity. The challenges in clinical trial design, the need for biomarkers of response-such as novel imaging techniques and immunologic monitoring-and the new advances and directions in cancer immunotherapy are also fully examined.




Antiangiogenic Agents in Cancer Therapy


Book Description

This volume represents a compendium of scientific findings and approaches to the study of angiogenesis in cancer. The second edition of Antiangiogenic Agents in Cancer Therapy is intended to give a current perspective on the state-of-the-art of angiogenensis and therapy directed at this process. Antiangiogenesis is a dynamic and evolving field in oncology. New therapeutic targets continue to emerge followed by the rapid development of new therapeutic agents to be investigated in clinical trials. Optimizing the therapeutic potential of antiangiogenic agents in combination with the other therapies in the armamentarium to fight cancer will be an on-going challenge.