An Introduction to Cancer Therapy

Preface

Chapter 1. Understanding Cancer: Types and Therapeutics
(Deepti Malik, Gitika Batra, Saniya Mahendiratta, Ajay Prakash and Bikash Medhi, Department of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India, and others)

Chapter 2. Kinases Inhibitors in Cancer Therapy
(Ana Bela Sarmento Ribeiro, Ana Cristina Gonçalves, Carolina Afonso, Raquel Alves, Inês Gois, Joana Jorge, João Eduardo Casalta, Lenca Ruzickov, Marília Dourado, Marília Gomes and José Manuel Nascimento Costa, Laboratory of Oncobiology and Hematology and University Clinic of Hematology/Faculty of Medicine of University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal, and others)

Chapter 3. Current Strategies in Cancer Gene Therapy
(Betül Bozdoğan, PhD, Göknur Kara, PhD, and Emir Baki Denkbaş, PhD, Chemistry Department, Aksaray University, Aksaray, Turkey, and others)

Chapter 4. Sulfonamides: A Valuable Weapon against Cancer with Sulfamethoxazole as a Potential Repurposed Lead Molecule
Avirup Malla (Department of Biotechnology, Haldia Institute of Technology, Haldia, Purba Medinipur, West Bengal; Department of Biophysics, Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics, University of Calcutta, West Bengal), Suvroma Gupta (Department of Biotechnology, Haldia Institute of Technology, Haldia, Purba Medinipur, West Bengal) and Runa Sur (Department of Biophysics, Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics, University of Calcutta, West Bengal)

Index

This compilation attempts to provide readers with brief and concise information on different types of cancer, their origins, and available treatment options. Protein kinase inhibitors, currently in clinical practice and under research for potential clinical usefulness, are also reviewed. Currently employed gene therapy strategies, obstacles, and challenges in cancer gene therapy are presented, focusing on the latest nanotechnological advancements in this field including gene transfer methods, vectors, and their current successful applications in cancer gene therapy. Lastly, sulfamethoxazole is examined for its history of combating several microbial infections by affecting folic acid biosynthesis inhibiting dihydropteroate synthetase.