Current Cancer Therapy Reviews - Volume 9, Issue 1, 2013

Anthracyclines show anti myeloma effects, being part of active regimens like infusional vincristine/ doxorubicin/ pulsed dexamethasone (VAD) in the past and recently of bortezomib/doxorubicin/pulsed dexamethasone (PAD) for the treatment of multiple myeloma. The recent introduction of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin has led to the development of newer anthracycline-containing regimens with improved toxicity profiles. Read More

2011 was a landmark year in the therapy for metastatic melanoma as it was the year that both Ipilmumab and Vemurafenib were approved by the FDA. Preceding this lay many years of frustration with no improvement in survival rates for 40 years. The prior standard therapy consisted of two main options, dacarbazine a non classic alkylating agent approved in the 1970s on the basis of overall response rates but having no ben Read More

DNA methylation is an epigenetic phenomenon, which has major effects on gene expression. Increased methylation generally inhibits transcription while hypomethylation is primarily associated with increased transcription. Hypermethylation of tumor suppressor genes occurs frequently in cancer leading to silencing of these growth inhibitory genes. Demethylating agents are a class of anti-cancer drugs which reduce cytosin Read More

Extracts of Scutellaria species have been used in Eastern traditional medicine as well in the Americas for the treatment of several human ailments, including cancer. Crude extracts or flavonoids derived from Scutellaria have been scientifically studied for potential anti-cancer activity using in vitro as well as animal models of various cancers, including breast cancer, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer and malignant gliomas. Phas Read More

In recent years, a clear trend has been observed for taxanes to be used earlier in the course of breast cancer, with a large proportion of patients previously treated with anthracyclines and/or taxanes in the (neo)adjuvant setting. In addition, tolerability issues associated with taxane use in elderly patients and patients with substantial comorbidity, means that taxane use is frequently compromised in a substantial proportion Read More

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common non-hematologic malignant tumor of bone in adults and children. As sarcomas are more common in adolescents and young adults than most other forms of cancer, there are a significant number of years of life lost secondary to these malignancies. OS is associated with a poor prognosis secondary to a high grade at presentation, resistance to chemotherapy and a propensity to meta Read More

Interdependent genetic and epigenetic events control the initiation and progression of tumors. Genetic amplification and overexpression of the GASC1 (gene amplified in squamous cell carcinoma 1) gene has been found in various tumor types and this upregulation correlates with a poor prognosis for cancer patients. Gain- and loss-of –function approaches demonstrate the importance of GASC1 for the maintenance of ca Read More