Heterocyclic Scaffolds in Targeted Cancer Therapy
Corresponding author: [email protected]
Abstract
Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide despite significant advances in diagnosis and treatment. Conventional chemotherapy has played a crucial role in cancer management; however, its lack of selectivity, severe systemic toxicity, development of drug resistance and poor therapeutic index have limited its long-term effectiveness. These challenges have encouraged researchers to develop more precise and targeted therapeutic approaches. Targeted cancer therapy has transformed modern oncology by specifically interacting with molecular targets involved in cancer growth and progression while minimizing damage to healthy tissues. Among the various chemical frameworks used in drug discovery, heterocyclic scaffolds have emerged as indispensable building blocks because of their remarkable structural diversity, biological compatibility and ability to bind selectively with numerous biological targets. Many clinically approved anticancer drugs contain heterocyclic rings, highlighting their importance in medicinal chemistry. This chapter discusses the role of heterocyclic scaffolds in targeted cancer therapy, their contribution to modern anticancer drug discovery and their applications in the development of safer and more effective cancer treatments. It also highlights the evolution of cancer treatment strategies from conventional chemotherapy to precision oncology and explores future opportunities for heterocycle-based therapeutics.
Author Affiliations
- 1 Associate Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Rashtriya College of Pharmacy, Hatnoor, Maharashtra, India.