Development of anticancer drugs based on the hallmarks of tumor cells

Tumour Biol. 2014 May;35(5):3981-95. doi: 10.1007/s13277-014-1649-y. Epub 2014 Jan 29.

Abstract

Cancer remains a public health problem with a high unmet medical demand. However, in recent decades, the knowledge of several functional molecular and biological traits that distinguish tumor cells from normal cells, known as the hallmarks of cancer as described by Hannahan and Weinberg, has led to new and modern therapeutic approaches against this disease. Most cancer drugs are deliberately developed for specific molecular targets that involve these hallmarks. In this review, we address the currently available cancer drugs and development of new drugs from the perspective of their interaction with these hallmarks as well as the pathways and mechanisms involved.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Drug Discovery*
  • Genomic Instability
  • Humans
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy*
  • Mutation
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Neoplasms / genetics
  • Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / etiology

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents