Oncology Pharmacology

Cancer is a complex life-threatening disease with patients having a poor prognosis and significantly reduced life expectancy, factors which significantly alter the risk-benefit balance in this therapeutic area. In contrast to other therapeutic areas, more emphasis is placed on potential benefits of new treatments for advanced cancer balanced by a requirement to manage any resulting toxicity. The successful development of new treatments for cancer can have an immediate impact upon patient survival. It is therefore important that compounds with the greatest safety margin in nonclinical studies, involving significant efficacy and minimal toxicity, are identified and progressed rapidly. Therefore, the type and timing of nonclinical safety studies for anticancer therapeutics has significantly different goals and required outcomes relative to nononcology therapeutics. This chapter specifically describes screening methodologies of particular relevance to oncology therapeutics, not covered in detail in other chapters.