Abstract
This article focuses on the cellular, biochemical, and molecular pharmacology of antifolates and how a basic understanding of the mechanism of action of methotrexate, its cytotoxic determinants, mechanisms of resistance, and transport into and out of cells has led to the development of a new generation of antifolates, a process that continues in the laboratory and in the clinics. New approaches to folate-based cancer chemotherapy are described based on the targeted delivery of drugs to malignant cells.
Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
MeSH terms
- Animals
- Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / chemistry
- Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / pharmacology
- Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / therapeutic use
- Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
- Folic Acid / biosynthesis
- Folic Acid Antagonists / chemistry*
- Folic Acid Antagonists / pharmacology*
- Folic Acid Antagonists / therapeutic use
- Humans
- Methotrexate / chemistry
- Methotrexate / pharmacology
- Methotrexate / therapeutic use
- Molecular Targeted Therapy
- Neoplasms / drug therapy*
- Neoplasms / metabolism
Substances
- Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
- Folic Acid Antagonists
- Folic Acid
- Methotrexate