One of few books to cover all aspects of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), this volume examines CDKs as molecular and functional entities, their role in various disease processes, and their potential for pharmacological modulation. The book first explains the integration of cell cycle control pathways, opportunities for targeting, targets of inhibitors, and the evaluation of CDK inhibitors. Then it examines the design, development, and chemistry of small molecule CDK inhibitors. The final section assesses the current status of CDK inhibitors in clinical trials, the therapeutic deployment challenges of small molecule inhibitors, and the future prospects of CDK inhibitors as anticancer agents.

Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors as Sensitizing Agents for Chemotherapy, the fourth volume in the Cancer Sensitizing Agents for Chemotherapy Series, focuses on strategic combination therapies that involve a variety of tyrosine kinase inhibitors working together to overcome multi-drug resistance in cancer cells. The book discusses several tyrosine kinase inhibitors that have been used as sensitizing agents, such as EGFR, BCR-ABL, ALK and BRAF. In each chapter, readers will find comprehensive knowledge on the inhibitor and its action, including its biochemical, genetic, and molecular mechanisms' emphases. This book is a valuable source for oncologists, cancer researchers and those interested in applying new sensitizing agents to their research in clinical practice and in trials. Summarizes the sensitizing role of some tyrosine kinase inhibitors in existing research Brings recent findings in several cancer types, both experimental and clinically, with a particular emphases on underlying biochemical, genetic, and molecular mechanisms Provides an updated and comprehensive knowledge regarding the field of combinational cancer treatment

This book discusses the efficacy of various naturally occurring chemopreventive agents in preventing or delaying cancer. It focuses on the holistic chemopreventive concept, demonstrating the relevant response is the combined effect of a series of compounds that alone have been shown to have some effect in different experimental models. Written by leading experts in the field, the contributions provide details of research on various chemopreventive agents. Offering insights into the unique molecular targets and mechanisms, safety issues, molecular efficacy, and occurrence in nature of these compounds, the book is a valuable resource for all scientists working in biomedicine, and specifically in cancer research.

More than 10 years ago, the discovery of cyclin-dependent ki nases (Cdks) ushered in a new era in the understanding of cell proliferation and its control. Not only were both of the known cell cycle transitions, from G 1 to S phase and G2 to M phase, found to be dependent on these protein kinases, but the reg ulatory assumption intrinsic to cyclin-dependent kinases, a stable inactive catalytic subunit (the Cdk) and an unstable requisite positive regulatory activating subunit (the cyclin), led to a simple model for cell cycle control. Modulation of cyclin accumulation, and thereby Cdk activation, was proposed to be the overarching principle governing the passage through cell cycle phases. An other reality to emerge from the discovery of Cdks was the ex ceptional degree of evolutionary conservation maintained in the machinery and organization of proliferation control. Not only were Cdks shown to be structurally conserved between yeast and man, but mammalian Cdks could substitute functionally for the endogenous enzymes in a yeast cell. The problem of cell cycle control was thought to have been virtually solved. The ensuing years have provided a much more complex view of cell cycle control and the role and regulation of Cdks. The uncritical enthusiasm with which many of the ideas were em braced has required tempering. For example, although Cdks appear to be highly conserved phylogenetically, cyclins are much less so.

This book is a state-of-the-art summary of the latest achievements in cell cycle control research with an outlook on the effect of these findings on cancer research. The chapters are written by internationally leading experts in the field. They provide an updated view on how the cell cycle is regulated in vivo, and about the involvement of cell cycle regulators in cancer.

Frontiers in Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery is a book series devoted to publishing the latest advances in anti-cancer drug design and discovery. In each volume, eminent scientists contribute reviews relevant to all areas of rational drug design and drug discovery including medicinal chemistry, in-silico drug design, combinatorial chemistry, high-throughput screening, drug targets, recent important patents, and structure-activity relationships. The book series should prove to be of interest to all pharmaceutical scientists involved in research in anti-cancer drug design and discovery. The book series is essential reading to all scientists involved in drug design and discovery who wish to keep abreast of rapid and important developments in the field. The ninth volume of the series features chapters covering the following topics: - New research on the therapeutic intervention of cancer and cancer drug delivery - Dabrafenib usage in melanoma therapy - Targeting autophagy in cancer therapy - Pro-apoptotic and anti-telomerase activity of naturally occurring compounds - CDK inhibitors - Oral nanostructure drug delivery for anti-cancer treatment