Current Cancer Drug Targets - Volume 12, Issue 3, 2012

Malignant gliomas are the most common type of primary brain tumors and prognosis of patients with these cancers remains poor despite standard treatment with radiotherapy and temozolomide. The structure and functioning of the Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) in brain tumours are controversial and have significant implications for designing new therapeutic strategies. Therefore, it is crucial to develop a strategy to allow drug deli Read More

Nanotechnology-based drug delivery was born as a chance for pharmaceutical weapons to be delivered in the body sites where drug action is required. Specifically, the incorporation of anti-cancer agents in nanodevices of 100-300 nm allows their delivery in tissues that have a fenestrated vasculature and a reduced lymphatic drainage. These two features are typical of neoplastic tissues and, therefore, allow the accumulati Read More

Glioblastoma (glioblastoma multiforme; GBM; WHO Grade IV) accounts for the majority of primary malignant brain tumors in adults. Amplification and mutation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene represent signature genetic abnormalities encountered in GBM. A range of potential therapies that target EGFR or its mutant constitutively active form, EGFR, including tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), monoclonal Read More

Central nervous system (CNS) metastases from breast cancer (BC) represent an important cause of diseaserelated morbidity and mortality. For BC patients who develop CNS metastases, local control measures (both surgery and radiation) are essentially palliative and usually poorly effective, with systemic therapies often failing to achieve optimal control mainly due to the presence of the blood-brain barrier which hampers ad Read More

The prognosis of malignant glioma and metastatic brain tumours is still extremely poor, despite recent advances in therapeutic strategies with molecular-targeted agents. Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors are a promising, novel class of anticancer drugs to be used either as single agents or in combination with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. PARP-1 and PARP-2 are the only PARP proteins that bind to DNA si Read More

Brain metastases (BM) are a common occurrence in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Standard therapy options include whole brain radiotherapy and, in selected patients, surgery or stereotactic radiosurgery. The role of systemic treatment is controversial. There is a strong clinical rationale for the use of targeted therapies, because patients often have a poor performance status, and are not candidates for c Read More

Brain metastases represent the most common intracranial tumors in the adults. Its incidence outnumbers that of primary brain tumors by a tenfold factor. Estimated cumulative incidence is between 10 to 20% of all cancer patients, which would represent over 170 000 new cases in the US. Typically, patients with multiple brain metastases are exposed to whole brain radiation therapy, as a palliative measure. Resulting media Read More

Brain tumors, primary and metastatic, are a cause of significant mortality and morbidity. Radiotherapy (RT) forms an integral part of the treatment of brain tumors. Intrinsic relative tumor radio-resistance, normal tissue tolerance and impact on neurocognitive function, all limit the efficacy of RT. Radiosensitizers can potentially increase efficacy on tumors while maintaining normal tissue toxicity, with or without inherent cytotoxicit Read More

Despite advances in multidisciplinary approaches, the prognosis for most patients with malignant gliomas is poor. Malignant gliomas are highly vascularized tumors with elevated expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), an important mediator of angiogenesis. Recent studies of bevacizumab, an anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody, alone or associated with chemotherapy, have demonstrated high response rates an Read More

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for about 85% of all new lung cancer diagnosis. The majority of people with NSCLC are unsuitable for surgery since most patients have metastatic disease at diagnosis. About 60% of brain metastases arise from lung cancer. Therapeutic approaches to brain metastases include surgery, whole brain radiot Read More