4 April 2002

Cancer research: New fronts in the war on cancer

Cover: human colon cancer cells (Nancy Kedersha/SPL)

The relative success of imatinib mesylate (Gleevec) in the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukaemia marks something of a milestone. It was designed to target an abnormal protein present in cancerous cells, and in the 10 months since its introduction in the United States it has done enough to show that molecularly targeted drugs have a promising future. In this issue Alison Abbott reports on the prospects for this and other advanced approaches in cancer treatment and diagnosis.

Cancer research: On the offensive
ALISON ABBOTT
After decades of disappointment, and the investment of billions of dollars, is the 'war on cancer' about to gain real momentum? Alison Abbott sends a dispatch from the front line.
Nature 416, 470–474 (4 April 2002)
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