Targeting Cell Survival Pathways to Enhance Response to Chemotherapy

Targeting Cell Survival Pathways to Enhance Response to Chemotherapy encompasses recently developed molecular targeting agents and approaches that suppress cell survival signaling. Cell survival signaling attenuates the effectiveness of conventional chemotherapy and numerous mechanisms have been described, and continue to be described, which contribute to cell survival in the face of chemotherapy treatment.

Key pathways leading to chemoresistance emanate from growth factor receptors, PI3K, STAT3, anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members, autophagy, and the DNA damage response pathway. New advances have underscored the potential of targeting each of these cell survival mechanisms to improve responsiveness to chemotherapy. This book reviews these recent advances and provides a foundational background and hints of new opportunities for basic, translational, and clinical investigators focused on improving therapeutic responses to chemotherapy.

Presents cutting-edge agents and approaches with proved success in different model systems that can be translated to a different type of cancerBrings updated information to be used to propose new clinical trials investigating innovative strategies for improving responses to chemotherapyProvides mechanistic details to help guide the design of laboratory studies associated with clinical trials

1. Targeting Members of the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Family to Improve Response to Chemotherapy 2. Targeting the Hepatocyte Growth Factor Receptor to Overcome Resistance to Targeted Therapies 3. Roles for AXL and MERTK in Resistance to Cytotoxic and Targeted Therapies 4. The JNK Pathway in Drug Resistance 5. Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor (FGFR) Inhibitors:  Enhancing Therapeutic Strategies for Solid Tumors 6. PIK3CA Mutations in Colorectal and Breast Cancer:  Impact on Oncogenesis and Response to Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs 7. STAT3 as a Major Contributor to Chemoresistance 8. Targeting the Hippo Pathway to Improve Response to Chemotherapy 9. Modulation of the Epigenome (Methylome) to Improve Chemotherapeutic Efficacy 10. Targeting the ATR Signaling Pathway to Overcome Chemoresistance in Cancer 11. PARP Inhibition to Enhance Response to Chemotherapy 12. Autophagy Inhibition and Chemosensitization in Cancer Therapy 13. Targeting Necroptosis in Anti-Tumor Therapy