Peptides and Non Peptides of Oncologic and Neuroendocrine Relevance : From Basic to Clinical Research

The book describes the ability of a series of endocrine-derived compounds, i.e. CHRH, LHRH, somatostatin, anti-androgens, and aromatase inhibitors to exert a direct anti-neoplastic activity or to potentiate the activity of traditional chemotherapeutic agents on neuroendocrine and solid tumors. In addition, a new class of potent GH-releasers, GSHs/Ghrelin, endowed with important endocrine and extra-endcocrine action, is presented. Therefore, in addition to traditional chemotherapy, characterized by high toxicity and non-selective action on tumoral cells, the reader can find a new approach with more selective, less cytotoxic endocrine derived compounds Front Matter....Pages I-XII Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Twenty-five Years of Endocrine Oncology with Analogs of Hypothalamic Peptides: An Overview....Pages 3-20 Analogs of Luteinizing Hormone-releasing Hormone in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma....Pages 21-28 Luteinizing Hormone-releasing Hormone Antagonists in Gynecology....Pages 29-38 Physiology and Pharmacology of Somatostatin and Its Receptors....Pages 39-45 Investigation of LHRH Receptor Involvement in Melanoma Growth and Progression....Pages 47-54 Front Matter....Pages 55-55 Cortistatin: Not Simply a Natural Somatostatin Analogue....Pages 57-64 Antineoplastic and Antiangiogenic Actions of Somatostatin Analogs....Pages 65-71 Somatostatin in Clinical Endocrinology....Pages 73-82 Antagonists of Growth Hormone-releasing Hormone in Oncology....Pages 83-98 GH Receptor Antagonists: Basic Knowledge and Clinical Perspectives....Pages 99-105 Front Matter....Pages 107-107 Hypothalamic Circuits Responsive to Ghrelin: Regulation by Leptin and Insulin....Pages 109-116 Physiological Function of Growth Hormone Secretagogue Receptors in the Cardiovascular System....Pages 117-127 Endocrine and Extraendocrine Activity of Ghrelin and the GHS: Basic Research....Pages 129-145 Endocrine and Nonendocrine Actions of Ghrelin and GHS: State of the Art in Clinic Research....Pages 147-158 Front Matter....Pages 159-159 Hormonal Treatments of Endocrine-Dependent Tumors: Preclinical Aspects....Pages 161-168 Hormonal Treatment of Endocrine-Dependent Tumours: Clinical Considerations....Pages 169-182 Letrozole in the Treatment of Advanced Breast Cancer....Pages 183-191 Back Matter....Pages 193-197