Possible therapeutic interventions in oncology

The process of tumorigenesis and the molecular biology of tumor cells provide the basis for explanations of the phenomenon of drug resistance in-the treatment of solid tumors. Most chemotherapeutics exert their genotoxic or cytotoxic effects by interference with parameters controlling cell division and thus the DNA integrity of a tumor cell. In order to maintain a balanced cellular homeostasis, cell proliferation is closely coupled to cell death (apoptosis). Thus, tumor cells obey a strong selection pressure to promote proliferation as well as to suppress the apoptotic pathway in order to escape the fate of cell death. Therefore, general resistance to chemotherapeutics Is conferred by the Same mutations leading to tumorigenesis. Many of the molecular mechanisms in tumors-have been identified in the recent years and provide now targets for specific therapeutic interventions in oncology.