Signal transduction pathways: new targets in oncology.

For many years the main strategies in the development of anticancer drugs were focused on killing tumour cells by means of agents which are blockers of transcription or translocation. However, it is evident that the currently available anticancer drugs, mainly antimetabolites and alkylating agents, cannot cure the most common types of cancer in adults. Therefore, totally new approaches are necessary in cancer chemotherapy research; one of these is disturbing cell signalling pathways involved in growth and malignant transformation. Several studies have concentrated on mechanisms of cell growth and differentiation, control through growth factor receptors and their ligands, oncogenes, proto-oncogenes and other membrane-associated signaling mechanisms. This paper discusses the potential targets in these signaling pathways for novel anticancer drugs.