Novel antineoplastic agents

Cancer chemotherapy represents a major expanding field of academic and industrial research. Many directions have been taken to identify new active compounds as more and more knowledge is gained on the mechanisms of pharmacological action through molecular biology techniques and structural studies at the molecular level. Major aims are to reduce the substantial limitations found in presently used drugs, such as severe toxicity, onset of resistance and lack of selectivity for cancer cells. In this review, we will focus on new patent-disclosed drugs targeted at the nucleic acid DNA and/or DNA-processing enzymes, such as DNA groove binders, alkylators, cleaving agents, topoisomerase I and LI directed compounds and antimetabolites. Tubulin inhibitors, such as taxol derivatives, will also be considered. Besides discussing the presently available patent literature and the possible developments connected to that, we will examine the new lines of research that are likely to produce a substantial impact in cancer pharmacology in the near future.