Tyrosine kinase inhibitors and signal transduction modulators: Rationale and current status as chemopreventive agents for prostate cancer

intimately associated with carcinogenesis and regulated by Cell growth and differentiation are processes tyrosine kinases and other signaling proteins . Identification of drugs that target signaling molecules is hampered by bo th the large number of targets and the complex nature of signaling cascades . Optimal development of chemopreventive agents must take into account affi nity for the target, pharmacology, and safety profile of the agent, Validat ed biomarkers will allow the optimal implementation of chemopreventive tria ls. Directed epidemiologic studies can lead to the identification of lead c ompounds for chemoprevention, such as genistein. Therefore, agents targeted to pathways and molecules of known biological importance in the prostate h old the promise of clinical efficacy against prostate cancer in a chemoprev entive setting. (C) 2001, Elsevier Science Inc.