“Current Trends in Drug Development to Treat Cancers of the Blood.”

By: Taukir Ahmed

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

3210 North Cramer Street, Milwaukee, WI 53211

Advisor: Dr. James Cook

Abstract

Cancer is a malignant proliferation of cells in which abnormal cells divide without control and can invade nearby tissues. There are three main types of blood cancers. Leukemia, starts in bloodforming tissue, such as the bone marrow. Lymphoma and myeloma are cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system. In 2016, approximately 1.5 million new cases were expected to be diagnosed of blood-related cancers in the United States alone. In the 1940’s the first effective leukemia treatment began with the chemotherapeutic drug aminopterin which was an antimetabolite. Chemotherapeutic agents are mainly classified according to their mode of action. Different types of leukemia are treated today with a single or combined drug chemotherapy. Other treatments include bone marrow and stem cell transplantations where a variety of transplant sources can be used. Targeted drugs are the latest addition and also started to have a major impact in the treatment of leukemia. It is expected that a deeper understanding of leukemia will contribute to the development of novel drugs that will bring renewed hope to leukemia patients. This seminar will provide an overview of the drugs that have been developed over the years for the treatment of blood-related cancers.

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