Why is cancer drug discovery so difficult?

Alexander Kamb; Susan Wee; Christoph Lengauer

doi:10.1038/nrd2155

Why is cancer drug discovery so difficult?

Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2007 Feb;6(2):115-20. doi: 10.1038/nrd2155. Epub 2006 Dec 8.

Authors

Alexander Kamb¹, Susan Wee, Christoph Lengauer

Affiliation

¹ Amgen, 1120 Veterans Boulevard, South San Francisco, California 94010, USA.

PMID: 17159925
DOI: 10.1038/nrd2155

Abstract

Thirty-five years after the 'war on cancer' was declared, the discovery of anticancer drugs remains a highly challenging endeavour. Here, we consider the factors responsible, such as tumour heterogeneity, and suggest strategies to improve the chances of short-term success in the development of novel anticancer drugs.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Antineoplastic Agents* / therapeutic use
Benzamides
Drug Design*
Humans
Imatinib Mesylate
Neoplasms / drug therapy
Neoplasms / genetics
Piperazines / therapeutic use
Pyrimidines / therapeutic use
Quantitative Trait Loci

Substances

Antineoplastic Agents
Benzamides
Piperazines
Pyrimidines
Imatinib Mesylate