Cancer Biology

Cancer remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. A diverse array of chemical and biological compounds has been developed to target cancer cells through various mechanisms, ranging from direct cytotoxicity to modulation of specific molecular pathways.

Traditional chemotherapeutic agents, such as alkylating agents, antimetabolites, topoisomerase inhibitors, and mitotic inhibitors, exert their effects primarily by interfering with DNA replication or cell division, thereby preferentially targeting rapidly proliferating tumor cells. Targeted therapy agents, such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors and proteasome inhibitors, selectively suppress oncogenic signaling pathways, thereby offering enhanced specificity and reduced systemic toxicity. Immunotherapeutic agents, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, harness the immune system to recognize and eliminate cancer cells. In addition, epigenetic modulators, DNA repair inhibitors, and angiogenesis-targeting compounds constitute novel therapeutic strategies.