Foreword

Cancer drug therapy has evolved significantly since the assumption made by Paul Ehrlich and others that low molecular weight compounds could be used to manage cancers and infectious diseases. Progress in the synthesis and isolation of organic compounds as well as our understanding of the structure and nature of DNA have also contributed to advances in anti-cancer drug development. Contemporary biochemical strategies to combat cancers range from cytotoxic and DNA damaging mechanisms to regulating programmed cell death (apoptosis). This e-book is the first volume of the series Advances in Cancer Drug Targets and is a compilation of recent expert reviews published on the subject with a focus these strategies. The reference work serves to give readers a brief yet comprehensive glance at current theory and practice behind employing chemical compounds for tackling tumor suppression, DNA site specific drug targeting and the inhibition of enzymes involved in growth control pathways. The reviews, written by experts in pharmaceutical sciences and molecular biology, have been carefully selected and represent an attempt to collect and present research on anti-cancer drug development in a separate volume for interested researchers and pharmaceutical scientists. Advances in Cancer Drug Targets can also provide insights into development of new approaches to anti-cancer therapy. I hope that the articles contained in this volume will be greatly enjoyed by the readers.

I would like to thank Mr. Mahmood Alam, Mr. Taimur Khan, Ms. Nazia Kamran and Ms. Humaira Hashmi for their help and support.