The concept of targets in oncology

The remarkable efficacy of targeted therapies has shown how important it is to characterise the biological targets of a specific cancer.
After having situated the targeted therapy revolution within its historical context, the aim of this second volume in the "Targeted therapy for cancer" series is to answer the question: what exactly is a target in oncology?
This educational work consists of short and clear chapters generously illustrated with diagrams and tables, and composed biological and medical experts with recognised experience in the field of targeted therapies for cancer.
The authors round up the primary targeted therapies, some validated and others still being researched, and so define the theoretical basis for a clearer understanding of the subsequent volumes in this collection.
Firstly, this volume proposes a coherent list of the major functions for which targeted therapy is appropriate.
Understanding how membrane targets and inhibiting agents work, the protein kinases involved in cell proliferation and cell metabolism targets via mTOR signalling pathways open up perspectives for new therapeutic targets.
Genome repair and apoptosis targets give us a better understanding of the effects of anticancer agents. And finally, tumour angiogenesis, which is a major new therapeutic development field, makes it possible to describe the functioning of current targets, but also of future targets, for new therapeutic approaches.