Patent focus: inhibitors of tumour cell growth

The following review covers notable patent disclosures (October 1999 March 2000) involving agents used as inhibitors of tumour cell growth. The primar y focus of the review involves specific mechanism-based therapies such as t yrosine kinase inhibitors, cyclin dependent kinase inhibitors and ras-farne syl transferase inhibitors. Recent disclosures involving new biotechnology, taxanes and other antiproliferative natural products will also be discusse d.