Targeting Protein Kinases for Cancer Therapy

"This excellent book is a comprehensive review of protein kinases in the context of their roles in human cancer. ... [It] is an excellent resource for scientists involved in selecting potential drug targets and optimization of compounds that are likely to be effective. The involvement of protein kinases in cancer, and strategies for selecting drug targets is thoughtfully discussed, and protein structures, domains and sites of regulation are described in depth and in ways that are easy to follow and understand. Individual kinases are described from the biological perspective and in the context of efforts to target them, often with case studies to illustrate specific points in exquisite detail. Understanding these proteins at this level of detail is essential to understand how they can be targeted and what we can expect to observe in the clinic. Following description of the kinases themselves and their function and regulation in signaling pathways, and cell cycle control, the second half of this book describes kinase inhibitors and experience gained from analyzing these compounds in vitro and in vivo. The final chapter addresses challenges and future directions, including issues relating to combinational therapy and systems biology. These big issues complete the comprehensive tour of the world of kinases in the context of cancer, from molecular details of drug-protein interactions, through biology to clinical application. Considering the success so far in targeting these enzymes in the clinic, and the level of investment currently being made to developing new kinase inhibitors for cancer therapy, there is no doubt that this outstanding book will be a valuable asset to the large community of chemists, biologists and clinicians involved in developing the next generation of therapies."
—Frank McCormick, Director, UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center