Cancer cell biology research in general, and anti-cancer drug development specifically, still relies on standard cell culture techniques that place the cells in an unnatural environment. As a consequence, growing tumor cells in plastic dishes places a selective pressure that substantially alters their original molecular and phenotypic properties.The emerging field of regenerative medicine has developed bioengineered tissue platforms that can better mimic the structure and cellular heterogeneity of in vivo tissue, and are suitable for tumor bioengineering research. Microengineering technologies have resulted in advanced methods for creating and culturing 3-D human tissue. By encapsulating the respective cell type or combining several cell types to form tissues, these model organs can be viable for longer periods of time and are cultured to develop functional properties similar to native tissues. This approach recapitulates the dynamic role of cell–cell, cell–ECM, and mechanical interactions inside the tumor. Further incorporation of cells representative of the tumor stroma, such as endothelial cells (EC) and tumor fibroblasts, can mimic the in vivo tumor microenvironment. Collectively, bioengineered tumors create an important resource for the in vitro study of tumor growth in 3D including tumor biomechanics and the effects of anti-cancer drugs on 3D tumor tissue. These technologies have the potential to overcome current limitations to genetic and histological tumor classification and development of personalized therapies.

Guides readers on the proper use of in vitro drug release methodologies in order to evaluate the performance of special dosage forms In the last decade, the application of drug release testing has widened to a variety of novel/special dosage forms. In order to predict the in vivo behavior of such dosage forms, the design and development of the in vitro test methods need to take into account various aspects, including the dosage form design and the conditions at the site of application and the site of drug release. This unique book is the first to cover the field of in vitro release testing of special dosage forms in one volume. Featuring contributions from an international team of experts, it presents the state of the art of the use of in vitro drug release methodologies for assessing special dosage forms’ performances and describes the different techniques required for each one. In Vitro Drug Release Testing of Special Dosage Forms covers the in vitro release testing of: lipid based oral formulations; chewable oral drug products; injectables; drug eluting stents; inhalation products; transdermal formulations; topical formulations; vaginal and rectal delivery systems and ophthalmics. The book concludes with a look at regulatory aspects. Covers both oral and non-oral dosage forms Describes current regulatory conditions for in vitro drug release testing Features contributions from well respected global experts in dissolution testing In Vitro Drug Release Testing of Special Dosage Forms will find a place on the bookshelves of anyone working with special dosage forms, dissolution testing, drug formulation and delivery, pharmaceutics, and regulatory affairs.

The breadth of the pharmaceutical medicine can be daunting, but this book is designed to navigate a path through the speciality. Providing a broad overview of all topics relevant to the discipline of pharmaceutical medicine, it gives you the facts fast, in a user-friendly format, without having to dive through page upon page of dense text. With 136 chapters spread across 8 sections, the text offers a thorough grounding in issues ranging from medicines regulation to clinical trial design and data management. This makes it a useful revision aid for exams as well as giving you a taster of areas of pharmaceutical medicine adjacent to your current role. For healthcare professionals already working in the field, this book offers a guiding hand in difficult situations as well as supplying rapid access to the latest recommendations and guidelines. Written by authors with experience in the industry and drug regulation, this comprehensive and authoritative guide provides a shoulder to lean on throughout your pharmaceutical career.

This unique volume traces the critically important pathway by which a "molecule" becomes an "anticancer agent. " The recognition following World War I that the administration of toxic chemicals such as nitrogen mustards in a controlled manner could shrink malignant tumor masses for relatively substantial periods of time gave great impetus to the search for molecules that would be lethal to specific cancer cells. Weare still actively engaged in that search today. The question is how to discover these "anticancer" molecules. Anticancer Drug Development Guide: Preclinical Screening, Clinical Trials, and Approval, Second Edition describes the evolution to the present of preclinical screening methods. The National Cancer Institute's high-throughput, in vitro disease-specific screen with 60 or more human tumor cell lines is used to search for molecules with novel mechanisms of action or activity against specific phenotypes. The Human Tumor Colony-Forming Assay (HTCA) uses fresh tumor biopsies as sources of cells that more nearly resemble the human disease. There is no doubt that the greatest successes of traditional chemotherapy have been in the leukemias and lymphomas. Since the earliest widely used in vivo drug screening models were the murine L 1210 and P388 leukemias, the community came to assume that these murine tumor models were appropriate to the discovery of "antileukemia" agents, but that other tumor models would be needed to discover drugs active against solid tumors.

In Vitro Methods in Pharmaceutical Research provides a comprehensive guide to laboratory techniques for evaluating in vitro organ toxicity using cellular models. Step-by-step practical tips on how to perform and interpret assays for drug metabolism and toxicity assessment are provided, along with a comparison of different techniques available. It is a welcome addition to the literature at a time when interest is growing in cellular in vitro models for toxicology and pharmacology studies. - Meets the continuing demand for information in this field - Compares In Vitro techniques with other methods - Describes cell-culture methods used to investigate toxicity in cells derived from different organs - Includes contributions by leading experts in the field

The growing consumer interest in health and fitness has expanded the market for a wide range of products, from yoga mats to the multiple dietary supplements now on the market. Supplements are popular, but are they safe? Many dietary supplements are probably safe when used as recommended. However, since 1994 when Congress decided that they should be regulated as if they were foods, they are assumed to be safe unless the Food and Drug Administration can demonstrate that they pose a significant risk to the consumer. But there are many types of products that qualify as dietary supplements, and the distinctions can become muddled and vague. Manufacturers are not legally required to provide specific information about safety before marketing their products. And the sales of supplements have been steadily increasingâ€"all together, the various types now bring in almost $16 billion per year. Given these confounding factors, what kind of information can the Food and Drug Administration use to effectively regulate dietary supplements? This book provides a framework for evaluating dietary supplement safety and protecting the health of consumers.

This is a well thought-out, highly practical text covering contemporary ‘in vitro’ techniques for drug absorption studies. Starting at the molecular level of investigation, it continues with cell monolayer models (both primary and cell lines) and culminates with in situ techniques as a final testing format. In addition, chapters on high-throughput assays, in vitro-in vivo correlation, bioinformatics and regulatory issues are covered, giving a comprehensive overview of available models and techniques. Moreover, an appendix consisting of a number of practical protocols is available online, updated as needed, and should prove very helpful to apply the techniques directly to the benchside.