Current Medicinal Chemistry - Volume 16, Issue 30, 2009

Most patients diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have advanced disease. Chemotherapy has apparently reached a plateau of effectiveness in improving survival in this subgroup of patients. Considerable efforts have been initiated to identify novel targets for new biological agents which may be safely and effectively administered to NSCLC patients. New blood vessel formation, known as angiogenesis, is a fu Read More

It is currently believed that the development of a clinically relevant tumor needs new vessel formation provided by both angiogenesis (primary involving endothelial cells) and postnatal vasculogenesis (primary involving bone marrowderived cells). Clearly, it is important to identify factors that help to enhance the growth and “health” of tumors, as well as their further vascularization. The Insulin and Insulin-like Growth Facto Read More

Polyphenolic molecules produced by higher plants in response to biotic and abiotic stresses exert numerous effects on tumorigenic cell transformation, and on tumor cells in vitro and in vivo, and may interact with conventional antitumor therapies. In the present review, we collected and critically discussed data on: (i) redox-dependent and redoxindependent mechanisms underlying cytotoxic/cytostatic effects of PPs a Read More

Paclitaxel belongs to the most successful anticancer drugs developed and utilised during the past two decades. Nevertheless, the development of resistance of tumor cells and severe side effects in the patients require further improvement of the drug. In this review, we provide a detailed overview of the state-of-the-art in the medicinal chemistry of paclitaxel and its analogues. A number of strategies have been explored to Read More

Endothelial cell abnormalities and the effects on the surrounding microvasculature is a focal point in the pathogenesis of Systemic Sclerosis disease and may even be the sentinel event for the initiation of this disorder. A better understanding of these processes may improve our understanding of the pathophysiology of Systemic Sclerosis and more specifically the vasculopathy observed. Such knowledge will help us to further curre Read More

Antimicrobial resistance is an emerging worldwide concern in light of the widespread antimicrobial drug use in humans, livestock and companion animals. The treatment of life-threatening infections is especially problematic because clinical strains rapidly acquire multiple-drug resistance. Antimicrobial peptides have long been considered to be viable alternatives to small molecule antibiotics. However, the peptides' parente Read More

Staphylococcus aureus is a facultative, Gram-positive coccus well known for its disease-causing capabilities. In particular, methicillin and vancomycin resistant strains of S. aureus (MRSA and VRSA, respectively) isolated globally represent daunting medical challenges for the 21st Century. This bacterium causes numerous illnesses in humans such as food poisoning, skin infections, osteomyelitis, endocarditis, pneu Read More

The natriuretic peptide family is comprised of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP), dendroaspis natriuretic peptide - DNP and urodilatin. They play a role in the diagnosis of several diseases, especially those involving the cardiovascular system. Sepsis is a complex condition that can lead to multiorgan failure, shock and death. The number of people develo Read More

With a view to the rational design of selective quinoxaline derivatives, 2D and 3D-QSAR models have been developed for the prediction of anti-tubercular activities. Successful implementation of a predictive QSAR model largely depends on the selection of a preferred set of molecular descriptors that can signify the chemico-biological interaction. Genetic algorithm (GA) and simulated annealing (SA) are applied as varia Read More