In Antifolate Drugs in Cancer Therapy, Ann Jackman and a panel of highly regarded researchers comprehensively review the current status of novel antifolates, an important class of anticancer drugs. The distinguished contributors discuss the preclinical and clinical pharmacology of methotrexate, other dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors, 5-fluorouracil, and the new generation of antifolates-the thymidylate synthase and glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase inhibitors. In addition, they review in depth the modulation of antifolate drugs, folate and antifolate transport mechanisms, polyglutamation, resistance, and drug combinations, as well as pharmacogenomics, pharmacodynamics, regulation of gene expression, and mechanisms of cell death. The wide and progressive scope of Antifolate Drugs in Cancer Therapy provides entré to exciting new avenues for future research, and constitutes a new standard reference for all basic scientists and clinicians engaged in cancer therapeutics.

Medicinal Chemistry of Anticancer Drugs, Second Edition, provides an updated treatment from the point of view of medicinal chemistry and drug design, focusing on the mechanism of action of antitumor drugs from the molecular level, and on the relationship between chemical structure and chemical and biochemical reactivity of antitumor agents. Antitumor chemotherapy is a very active field of research, and a huge amount of information on the topic is generated every year. Cytotoxic chemotherapy is gradually being supplemented by a new generation of drugs that recognize specific targets on the surface or inside cancer cells, and resistance to antitumor drugs continues to be investigated. While these therapies are in their infancy, they hold promise of more effective therapies with fewer side effects. Although many books are available that deal with clinical aspects of cancer chemotherapy, this book provides a sorely needed update from the point of view of medicinal chemistry and drug design. - Presents information in a clear and concise way using a large number of figures - Historical background provides insights on how the process of drug discovery in the anticancer field has evolved - Extensive references to primary literature

The Encyclopedia of Malaria represents a vast databank of information about the study of malaria. It provides an overview of the historical, rapid and significant developments that have occurred in malaria research, including the 2002 genome sequencing of Plasmodium falciparum and its mosquito vector, Anopheles gambiae. This work provides a concise source of up-to-date research findings in the form of definitions and essays and present comprehensive coverage of topics from history to findings to diagnosis and treatment, written by recognized malaria researchers with practical experience. It appeals to a diverse audience, including malaria researchers, teachers, investigators and public health professionals.

Genetic alterations in cancer, in addition to being the fundamental drivers of tumorigenesis, can give rise to a variety of metabolic adaptations that allow cancer cells to survive and proliferate in diverse tumor microenvironments. This metabolic flexibility is different from normal cellular metabolic processes and leads to heterogeneity in cancer metabolism within the same cancer type or even within the same tumor. In this book, we delve into the complexity and diversity of cancer metabolism, and highlight how understanding the heterogeneity of cancer metabolism is fundamental to the development of effective metabolism-based therapeutic strategies. Deciphering how cancer cells utilize various nutrient resources will enable clinicians and researchers to pair specific chemotherapeutic agents with patients who are most likely to respond with positive outcomes, allowing for more cost-effective and personalized cancer therapeutic strategies.

The book Research on Melanoma: A Glimpse into Current Directions and Future Trends, is divided into sections to represent the most cutting-edge topics in melanoma from around the world. The emerging epigenetics of disease, novel therapeutics under development and the molecular signaling aberrations are explained in detail. Since there are a number of areas in which unknowns exist surrounding the complex development of melanoma and its response to therapy, this book illuminates and comprehensively discusses such aspects. It is relevant for teaching the novice researcher who wants to initiate projects in melanoma and the more senior researcher seeking to polish their existing knowledge in this area. Many chapters include visuals and illustrations designed to easily guide the reader through the ideas presented.

This book provides multidisciplinary reviews of the mechanism of action and uses of methotrexate in the treatment of cancer, psoriasis, gynecologic and inflammatory diseases. The intended audience is composed of clinicians involved in the care of patients suffering from oncologic, gynecologic, rheumatic diseases as well as scientists involved in research into the pathogenesis and treatment of these diseases. This book is unique in that it provides a single, state-of-the-art source for information regarding the mechanism and use of methotrexate in many different areas of medicine.

Drug Monitoring and Clinical Chemistry, the 5th volume in the Handbook of Analytical Separations series, gives an overview about methods to analyse drugs in biological fluids. The most widely used methods to analyse drugs in biological fluids. i.e. chromatographic methods, CE and immunoassays are described in detail. For important drugs, an overview about the methods available and a comparison of the techniques should be given to enable the reader to choose the right method depending on laboratory equipment, staff, the aim of the investigation etc. Other general aspects important for conducting therapeutic drug monitoring or pharmacokinetics studies are also covered, i.e. sample preparation, validation of the analytical methods and pharmacokinetic methods for interpreting the data. Areas where therapeutic drug monitoring is used frequently such as antibiotics, immunosuppressant drugs, antipsychotic and anticancer drugs will be discussed in detail. In addition, the important field of phenotyping and genotyping for therapy optimisation with special focus on real-life applications is also covered. The book contains important information for analyst working on drug analysis in clinical chemistry, hospital pharmacists involved in therapeutic drug monitoring, other pharmacists, chemists or physicians working on pharmacokinetic studies in industry or academia. In contrast to other books in this field, this book provides up-to-date information regarding both methodology and clinical applications. For the applications, only fields are described where therapeutic drug monitoring is used in clinical routine and provides benefit to the patients. - Overview of all important field where therapeutic drug monitoring is applied - All relevant analytical and computational methods are discussed - Written by experts with a lot of practical experience in the field

PEGylation technology and key applications are introduced by this topical volume. Basic physical and chemical properties of PEG as basis for altering/improving in vivo behaviour of PEG-conjugates such as increased stability, improved PK/PD, and decreased immunogenicity, are discussed. Furthermore, chemical and enzymatic strategies for the coupling and the conjugate characterization are reported. Following chapters describe approved and marketed PEG-proteins and PEG-oligonucleotides as well as conjugates in various stages of clinical development.

An essential text, this is a fully updated second edition of a classic, now in two volumes. It provides rapid access to information on molecular pharmacology for research scientists, clinicians and advanced students. With the A-Z format of over 2,000 entries, around 350 authors provide a complete reference to the area of molecular pharmacology. The book combines the knowledge of classic pharmacology with the more recent approach of the precise analysis of the molecular mechanisms by which drugs exert their effects. Short keyword entries define common acronyms, terms and phrases. In addition, detailed essays provide in-depth information on drugs, cellular processes, molecular targets, techniques, molecular mechanisms, and general principles.