This work covers the pathophysiology of cancer, exploring the difficulty of optimal treatment due to the complexity and diversity of cancer types. The search for distinctive molecular biology characteristics of tumor cells is especially relevant in the identification of overexpressed receptors and proteins that can be used as a target for cancer treatment.

We highlight the main therapeutic modalities, particularly conventional systemic chemotherapy, addressing its mechanisms of action, therapeutic classes and even the toxic effects. We also describe the main tumor markers, their importance in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, and the specificity of tumor cells. 

The first chapters serve as an introduction to the central topic of this book, targeted therapy. Key aspects of target therapy, such as classes of drugs, immunotherapy, monoclonal antibodies, checkpoint inhibitors, cancer vaccines and tyrosine kinase inhibitors are presented, and, for each one, the benefits, as well as the adverse effects are reported. Chapter 6 compares conventional systemic chemotherapy and targeted therapy, identifies the risks and benefits and also the eligibility criteria for patient care. The possibility of targeted therapy replacing conventional chemotherapy is discussed while reviewing studies that demonstrate the benefits of combining both types of treatment. Finally, the introduction of pharmaceutical nanotechnology to improve antineoplastic agents is addressed in the last chapter and sets the direction for future research in cancer treatment.

This is a valuable resource for many health professionals including physicians, pharmacists, nurses, researchers and students interested in the field of oncology.

Introduction

Cancer: concepts and epidemiology
A brief history of cancer
What is Cancer?
Cancer Epidemiology
Cancer development and immunology
Cell cycle
Cell cycle control: the function of cyclins
Cancer triggering agents
Proto-oncogenes
Tumor suppressor genes
Development of tumor mass
Cancer Immunology
Discovery of tumor markers
Cancer diagnosis
Impact of the discovery of tumor markers
Main tumor markers for cancer diagnosis
Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (beta-HCG)
Mucin-like cancer-associated antigen (MCA)
CA 15.3
Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)
Bladder tumor antigen (BTA)
Telomerase
Nuclear matrix protein (NMP 22)
Cyfra 21.1
Prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP)
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA)
CA 125
CA 19.9
p53
CA 72.4
K-ras
HER2
Cancer staging
Conventional cancer treatment
Therapeutic modalities of cancer
Surgery
Radiotherapy
Antineoplastic chemotherapy
Classification of antineoplastic agents by cycle
Specific cycle antineoplastics
Nonspecific antineoplastic agents
Classification of antineoplastic agents by chemical structure and function
Alkylating agents
Antimetabolites
Plant-derived antineoplastics
Antitumor antibiotics
Chemotherapy toxicity
Hematological toxicity
Liver toxicity
Cardiac toxicity
Anthracyclines
Fluoropyrimidine
Taxanes
Pulmonary toxicity
Neurological toxicity
Renal toxicity
Gastrointestinal toxicity
Metabolic changes
Targeted therapies in cancer treatment
Overexpressed receptors on tumor cells
Immunotherapy
Monoclonal antibodies
Types of monoclonal antibodies
Side effects of monoclonal antibodies
Checkpoint Inhibitors
Side effects of checkpoint inhibitors
Cancer Vaccines
Vaccines in cancer prevention
Vaccines for the treatment of cancer
Non-specific immunotherapies
Tyrosine kinase inhibitors
Imatinib
Gefitinib
Erlotinib
Sorafenib
Dasatinib
Nilotinib
Lapatinib
Adverse events of tyrosine kinase inhibitors
Conventional chemotherapy vs. targeted therapy
Differences between conventional chemotherapy and targeted therapy
Risks and benefits of conventional chemotherapy compared to targeted therapy
Eligibility criteria for the indication of the targeted therapy
Side effects of targeted therapy
Can targeted therapy replace conventional chemotherapy?
Targeted therapy associated with conventional chemotherapy
Pharmaceutical nanotechnology applied to cancer
Pharmaceutical nanotechnology
Classification of nanosystems
Liposomes
Micelles
Polymeric nanoparticles
Solid lipid nanoparticles
Magnetic nanoparticles
Metal nanoparticles
Main functions of nanosystems in cancer
Pharmaceutical nanotechnology in cancer diagnosis
Pharmaceutical nanotechnology for cancer treatment.