Cancer Chemotherapy: Concepts

Experimental chemotherapy continues to be at the forefront of cancer thera- peutics. Topics covered in the preceding volume on cancer chemotherapy in this series such as study of drugs by alkaline elution, the development of the antimetabolite tiazofurin, and the treatment of germ cell tumors have become informative references to current experimentalists and practitioners. In even earlier volumes, reviews of the platinum compounds, anthracyclines, and osteosarcoma represent topics associated with such rapid progress requiring a look back to provide the appropriate perspective. Similarly, we venture to predict that the topics in this volume will become useful landmarks for future drug development and disease strategies. In the area of drug development, what is being learned about old, estab- lished antineoplastics is raising renewed expectations that it will be translated into improved applications and patient benefit. For example, we now have the ability to modulate the action of alkylating agents and fluorinated pyri- midines to achieve greater sensitivity. A new compound for an old target, trimetrexate, an antifolate that does not polyglutaminate, will have a role not only in treatment of neoplastic diseases, but also protozoal infection.