Synergistic approach to cancer therapy: exploiting interactions between anti-estrogens, retinoids, monoterpenes and tyrosine kinase inhibitors

Non-responsiveness and toxicity are large problems encountered during cance r treatment. Utilization of compounds that synergize should increase treatm ent efficacy while avoiding problems of toxicity. This review explores inte ractions between classes of compounds, including anti-estrogens, retinoids, monoterpenes and tyrosine kinase inhibitors, that are effective independen t, and how their synergistic interaction could be exploited in cancer treat ment. The effects of these compounds on insulin-like growth factors (IGF) a nd transforming-growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) will also be examined. (C) 20 00 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.