Current Clinical Pharmacology 

About: Current Clinical Pharmacology is an academic journal. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Cancer & Population. It has an ISSN identifier of 1574-8847. Over the lifetime, 486 publications have been published receiving 8971 citations.

The discovery and development of selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) for clinical practice.

Abstract: Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) are structurally different compounds that interact with intracellular estrogen receptors in target organs as estrogen receptor agonists or antagonists. These drugs have been intensively studied over the past decade and have proven to be a highly versatile group for the treatment of different conditions associated with postmenopausal women's health, including hormone responsive cancer and osteoporosis. Tamoxifen, a failed contraceptive is currently used to treat all stages of breast cancer, chemoprevention in women at high risk for breast cancer and also has beneficial effects on bone mineral density and serum lipids in postmenopausal women. Raloxifene, a failed breast cancer drug, is the only SERM approved internationally for the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis and vertebral fractures. However, although these SERMs have many benefits, they also have some potentially serious adverse effects, such as thromboembolic disorders and, in the case of tamoxifen, uterine cancer. These adverse effects represent a major concern given that long-term therapy is required to prevent osteoporosis or prevent and treat breast cancer. The search for the 'ideal' SERM, which would have estrogenic effects on bone and serum lipids, neutral effects on the uterus, and antiestrogenic effects on breast tissue, but none of the adverse effects associated with current therapies, is currently under way. Ospemifene, lasofoxifene, bazedoxifene and arzoxifene, which are new SERM molecules with potentially greater efficacy and potency than previous SERMs, have been investigated for use in the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis. These drugs have been shown to be comparably effective to conventional hormone replacement therapy in animal models, with potential indications for an improved safety profile. Clinical efficacy data from ongoing phase III trials are available or are awaited for each SERM so that a true understanding of the therapeutic potential of these compounds can be obtained. In this article, we describe the discovery and development of the group of medicines called SERMs. The newer SERMs in late development: ospemifene, lasofoxifene, bazedoxifene, are arzoxifene are described in detail.

Pharmacometrics of Stilbenes: Seguing Towards the Clinic

Abstract: Stilbenes are small molecular weight (approximately 200-300 g/mol), naturally occurring compounds and are found in a wide range of plant sources, aromatherapy products, and dietary supplements. These molecules are synthesized via the phenylpropanoid pathway and share some structural similarities to estrogen. Upon environmental threat, the plant host activates the phenylpropanoid pathway and stilbene structures are produced and subsequently secreted. Stilbenes act as natural protective agents to defend the plant against viral and microbial attack, excessive ultraviolet exposure, and disease. One stilbene, resveratrol, has been extensively studied and has been shown to possess potent anti-cancer, antiinflammatory and anti-oxidant activities. Found primarily in the skins of grapes, resveratrol is synthesized by Vitis vinifera grapevines in response to fungal infection or other environmental stressors. Considerable research showing resveratrol to be an attractive candidate in combating a wide variety of cancers and diseases has fueled interest in determining the disease-fighting capabilities of other structurally similar stilbene compounds. The purpose of this review is to describe four such structurally similar stilbene compounds, piceatannol, pinosylvin, rhapontigenin, and pterostilbene and detail some current pharmaceutical research and highlight their potential clinical applications.

Trends in utilization of the pharmacological potential of chalcones.

Abstract: Chalcones (1,3-diaryl-2-propen-1-ones) are open chain flavonoids that are widely biosynthesized in plants. They are important for the pigmentation of flowers and, hence, act as attractants to the pollinators. As flavonoids, chalcones also play an important role in defense against pathogens and insects. A longstanding scientific research has shown that chalcones also display other interesting biological properties such as antioxidant, cytotoxic, anticancer, antimicrobial, antiprotozoal, antiulcer, antihistaminic and anti-inflammatory activities. Some lead compounds with various pharmacological properties have been developed based on the chalcone skeleton. Clinical trials have shown that these compounds reached reasonable plasma concentrations and did not cause toxicity. For these reasons, chalcones became an object of continued interest in both academia and industry. Nowadays, several chalcones are used for treatment of viral disorders, cardiovascular diseases, parasitic infections, pain, gastritis, and stomach cancer, as well as like food additives and cosmetic formulation ingredients. However, much of the pharmacological potential of chalcones is still not utilized. The purpose of this review is to describe the recent efforts of scientists in pharmacological screening of natural and synthetic chalcones, studying the mechanisms of chalcone action and relevant structure-activity relationships. Put together, these activities aimed at synthesis of pharmacologically active chalcones and their analogs.

Monoclonal Antibodies: A Review

Abstract: Background Over the last three decades, monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) have made a striking transformation from scientific tools to powerful human therapeutics. Muromonab CD3 a murine MAb was the first FDA approved therapeutic MAb for the prevention of kidney transplant rejection. Since its approval in 1986, there has been a decline in further application and approvals until the late 1990s when the first chimeric Mab, Rituximab was approved for the treatment of lowgrade B cell lymphoma in 1997. With the approval by licensing authorities of chimeric, followed by humanized and then fully human monoclonal antibodies, the rate of approval and monoclonal antibodies available in the market for the treatment of various diseases has increased dramatically. As of March 2017, FDA has approved approximately 60 therapeutic MAbs which are currently under evaluation in various phases of clinical trials. Objective MAbs are approved for the treatment of diseases belonging to various systems like cardiovascular, respiratory, hematology, kidney, immunology and oncology. MAbs are approved for the treatment of orphan diseases or indications such as paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria as well as cancers and multiple sclerosis where hundreds of patients are treated and even diseases such as breast cancer, asthma and rheumatoid arthritis where millions are being treated. This review focuses briefly on types, molecular targets, mechanism of actions and therapeutic indications of FDA approved MAb products that are currently available in the market. Conclusion With the advent of fully human MAbs, the efficacy and safety have improved in the treatment of various cardiovascular, cancer, respiratory, hematology, autoimmune diseases and infections. The introduction of biosimilars will increase the affordability and utilization of MAbs in the treatment of various diseases.

The Molecular Basis of Class Side Effects Due to Treatment with Inhibitors of the VEGF/VEGFR Pathway

Abstract: Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) is considered to be one of the most important regulators of angiogenesis and a new key target in anti-cancer treatment. Various clinical trials have validated the clinical importance of anti- VEGF or anti-VEGF receptor (VEGFR) therapy. Currently the humanized monoclonal antibody bevacizumab (blocks VEGF-A), and the tyrosine kinase inhibitors sunitinib and sorafenib (inhibit VEGFRs) are approved for patients with various malignancies and several others are expected in the coming years. Unfortunately, anti-VEGF/VEGFR treatment is not void of side effects. An array of unexpected side effects is now seen in clinical practice. Management of these side effects is extremely important in the development of the various anti-VEGF/VEGFR therapies and their optimal use. This review provides an overview of the toxicity profile of this class of agents, the molecular basis behind these side effects and indicates potential options for management. VEGF and its receptors play an important role in normal tissues and are widely expressed. It is likely that interference with this pathway induces an array of side effects due to the lack of normal function of VEGF. A consistent pattern of side effects is now emerging. Hypertension, gastro-intestinal toxicity, hypothyroidism, proteinuria, coagulation disorders and neurotoxicity are side effects observed with both anti-VEGF and anti-VEGFR inhibitors. For these side effects the role of VEGF/VEGFR pathway in normal tissue was reviewed in order to provide a molecular mechanism that linked side effect with physiological activity of VEGF/VEGFR. Insight into the molecular basis may aid specific supportive care measures to ensure optimal use of this class of agents. Conclusion: Inhibiting the VEGF/VEGFR pathway is an effective approach to treat cancer. It has also provided new insight into the physiological role of this pathway in various organs. Integrating the knowledge in daily oncological practice will be a challenge for the future.