Differentiation therapy of human cancer: basic science and clinical applications

Current cancer therapies are highly toxic and often nonspecific. A potentia lly less toxic approach to treating this prevalent disease employs agents t hat modify cancer cell differentiation, termed 'differentiation therapy.' T his approach is based on the tacit assumption that many neoplastic cell typ es exhibit reversible defects in differentiation, which upon appropriate tr eatment, results in tumor reprogramming and a concomitant loss in prolifera tive capacity and induction of terminal differentiation or apoptosis (progr ammed cell death). Laboratory studies that focus on elucidating mechanisms of action are demonstrating the effectiveness of 'differentiation therapy,' which is now beginning to show translational promise in the clinical setti ng. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.