[Designer-drugs in tumor treatment].

Targeted approaches to treat malignant diseases in hematology and oncology based on the molecular basis of the disease represent a major breakthrough in modern medicine. Knowledge acquired in basic sciences such as functional understanding of products generated by chromosomal translocations, definition of surface molecules or molecular requirements of tumor-cell survival allow to specifically aim at the cause of or at a requirement for malignancy. This is in sharp contrast to conventional chemotherapy which mainly influences the ubiquitous pathways of nucleic acid metabolism and cell division. In addition to superior efficacy of these approaches one should-on the long run-expect a superior profile of side effects compared to standard regimens. These "designer-approaches" are mainly based on small molecules or monoclonal antibodies. Out of the broad spectrum of current concepts we would like to summarize some of the strategies that have already found their way from bench to bedside.