oa Editorial

The journal is gaining considerable interest by researchers in oncology, medicinal chemistry and pharmacology involved in drug design and discovery, and anti-cancer drug therapy. The Impact factor of the journal is increasing , as are the number of pages published per issue, and is at present 2.368 (JCR, Thomson-Reuters, 2010). In this current issue, various approaches in the field of cancer therapy with extensive coverage of patents are presented. Metabolic therapy of acute lymphoblastic leukemia by L-asparaginase was reported by Scotti et al. The article summarizes the biotechnological production of asparaginase which is known as an antitumor enzyme particularly by Helicobacter pyroli. The mechanisms of antitumor effect have been discussed. This property is attributed to its significant glutaminase activity. Recently, Jaccard and Hermine [1] reported the use of L-asparaginase effectiveness in extranodal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma while Pallem et al. studied the solid state fermentation using Fusarium oxysporum for the production of a tumor inhibitory enzyme, L-asparaginase [2]. Recent US20110275590 invention discloses the asparagine and glutamine and their analog compositions for the treatment of different kinds of cancers. The role of amino acids for the diagnosis of tumors and metastases was also described. The chemotherapeutic agent, L-asparaginase hydrolyzes L-asparagine to aspartate and ammonia and depleting L-asparagine from the serum and inhibiting tumor growth. L-Asparaginase is used mainly in the treatment of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) and shows some activity against other hematological cancers including acute non-lymphocytic leukemia [3]. The administration of asparagine synthetase (ASNS) antagonist, L-asparaginase (L-ASP) and a pegylated L-ASP resulted in a decrease in cell proliferation of leukemia, ovarian cancers, melanomas, renal cancers, breast cancers, brain cancers, and other cancers [4]. Wong in his article discusses recent developments and patents reported for the IGF signallling pathway and the outcome of IGF-IR in in vivo and in vitro future novel molecular therapeutics. The vital role of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) and the IGF-1 receptor (IGF-IR) in many cancers and initial clinical trial's results for compounds are also discussed. Zhao et al. reviewed the increase of insulin-like growth factor I receptor (IGF-IR) and removal of tumor suppressor phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) in Trastuzumab resistance but these mechanisms have not been defined [5]. IGFs play a vital role in regulating cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. A method of predicting efficacy of an IGF-1 R antagonist therapy for cancer in a patient was described in WO2011083391. Cancer patient for insulin growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) antagonist therapy and patient with a concentration of free IGF-1 or insulin/IGF binding protein 1 were selected to determine the ratio that is equal to or more than a determined value [6]. Huang et al. studied that reduction in IR-B expression is the important factor to the altered IR-A: IR-B ratio revealed in breast cancer. Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling through human insulin receptor isoform A (IR-A) attributes to tumorigenesis and essential resistance to anti-IGF1R therapy [7]. Kung et al. studied different strategies for the particular inhibition of IGF-1 R possessing effective anti-tumor property in multiple myeloma cell growth. The method and composition of chemotherapeutic agent and an insulin-like growth factor receptor-1 (IGF-1R) inhibitor used for the inhibition of tumor cell growth were covered in this invention [8]. Fialho et al. discussed in their article comprehensive recent patents reported on the role of attenuated strains of live bacteria such as Salmonella, Mycobacterium, Listeria, and Clostridium etc. as anti-cancer agents. The anti- cancer property of microbial products i.e. peptides, proteins, enzymes, immunotoxins, antibiotics and secondary metabolites was extensively covered in this review article. Recently, methods and administration of new attenuated Listeria bacterium composition as vaccine for entry into nonphagocytic cells and cell-to-cell spread for inducing immune responses and in the treatment of cancer, infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases, allergies, and other hyperproliferative diseases were disclosed [9]. An invention disclosing the methods for treatment of the DNA vaccines comprising polyubiquitinated human Fra-1 protein, and IL-18, such as human IL-18 against cancer cells was recently published. The polynucleotide construct is incorporated in doubly attenuated aroA- dam- Salmonella typhimurium [10]. Singh and Wallecha in 2011 reported the Listeria monocytogenes based cancer vaccine in clinical trials through antigen presenting cells (APC) and mechanism of targeting the tumor by the immune system [11]. Mechanism of action of antagonists of growth hormone- releasing hormone (GHRH) and other growth factor analogs for inhibition of the growth of experimental cancers was described by Stepien et al. The synthesis of potent growth hormonereleasing hormone antagonists, mechanism of action and its antineoplastic action were also reviewed. New methodology for the treatment of cancer by administering IGF-II and IGF-IIE binding new proteins and an additional therapy such as a growth hormone and growth hormone releasing hormone pathway modulator or epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor as an additional therapy was discussed in the invention by Dransfield, Cohen, Adams and Cosgrove [12]. Colorectal cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer and lung cancer are suppressed by new polypeptides and nucleic acids disclosed in the recent invention. The methodology involved use of a non-cytotoxic protease, Targeting Moiety, and translocation domain which inhibits secretion/transmission of growth hormone from cancer cell [13]. Papadia et al. studied the role of antagonists of the growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) i.e. JMR-132 and MZ-J-7- 118 in the inhibition of epithelial ovarian carcinoma involving endocrine, autocrine and paracrine mechanisms [14]. Pozsgai et al. reported the results of a novel antagonist of growth hormone releasing hormone on cell proliferation and on the key cell signaling pathways in nine different breast cancer cell lines. The studies showed that a MIA-602 is promising against a wide range of in vitro breast cancers [15]. Borgres et al. reviewed the hot topic area of recent advances and patents in the area of hyperthermic methods, external radiofrequency devices, hyperthermic enhancers or perfusions, heating applications to the target site by catheter and injection of magnetic , ferroelectric particles and magnetic nanoparticles (mNPs) used for cancer therapy. Kurkayev discloses the use of nanoparticles dimensions of 0.5-200nm in the treatment of cancer. Nanoparticles are obtained from the destruction of SiO2 heterocrystal mineral from quartzite, sphene, leukoxen and rutilated quartz [16]. Systems and methods for inducing hyperthermia with mechanical index above a threshold level for cavitation and below a threshold level for cavitation in human body for cancer therapy have been disclosed [17] Studies on a combined thermal model embedded with gold nanoshells for laser hyperthermia treatment of tumors were recently published [18]. Li et al. emphasized on the recent patents on new matrix metalloproteinases MMPs, matrix metalloproteinases inhibitors (MMPIs), and cancer and developments in MMPs research area for cancer therapy. Authors review the patents on MMPIs in preclinical or clinical trials for the period 2005-2010 and future implication on further design & advancement of MMPIs. Heteroaryl substituted indole compounds as MMP-13 inhibitors disclosed in this invention will be valuable for treating tumor metastasis and solid tumors, such as cancers of the breast, respiratory tract, brain, reproductive organs, digestive tract, urinary tract, eye, liver, skin, head and neck, thyroid, parathyroid , lymphomas, sarcomas, and leukemia [19]. Recent studies showed that the mRNA expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) i.e. MMP1, MMP2, MMP7, MMP13, MMP14, MMP16, MMP19, and MMP25 was suppressed by cancer inhibitors NME, DRG1, IL10 in breast cancer cells [20]. Agrawal et al. comprehensively discussed anti-telomerase cancer therapy, immunotherapy, small molecule inhibitors, RNA interfernec (RNAi), eighty nine approaches and patents related to the inhibition of RNA (HTR) constituent of telomerase and telomerase reverse transcriptase (HTERT) component of telomerase. The expression of ALT-associated proteins and mRNAs in human osteosarcoma OS cell lines was discussed. Expression of all the mRNAs involved in telomere maintenance mechanisms (TMMs) including human telomerase reverse transcriptase, promyelocytic leukemia proteins and other related proteins was analyzed by genome expression arrays [21]. Preparation and compositions of novel organic compounds i.e. heterobicyclic carboxamides are used as inhibitors for protein kinases associated proliferative diseases, particularly tumor diseases are disclosed in the recent patent [22]. The albumin fusion proteins composition was disclosed to be useful for the cure of metastatic melanoma, malignant melanoma, renal cell carcinoma and metastatic renal cell carcinoma [23]. The paper by Ramon A. de Mello et al. reviews the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) proteins in current pathologic tumoral angiogenesis and later phase development of antiangiogenic agents in lung cancer. HIF-1α and VEGF expression in non-small cell lung cancer cells was reported to be enhanced. In vitro and in vivo tumor angiogenesis was observed to be enhanced through over expression of HPV-16 E6 and E7 oncoproteins in NSCLC cells [24]. The review on current existing cancer therapy approaches involving molecular and genetic actions to determine the pathogenesis of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) for further development of diagnosis and treatment of this rare tumor was studied by Hubalewska-Dydejczyk. MicroRNA expression may be in future an important diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for the prognosis of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC). The compounds acting as selective inhibitors of rock protein are described to be effective for the treatment or reducing of proliferative diseases or disorders such as melanoma, breast cancer, colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, and adrenocarcinoma and adrenocortical [25]. Similarly, Singh et al. in their recent submitted paper discussed the existing perceptive of miRNAs in adrenocortical tumors, and diagnosis. The changes in miRNA expression may be related to adrenocortical tumors [26].