RT Journal
T1 THe basis of chemotherapy
JF Journal of the American Medical Association
JO Journal of the American Medical Association
YR 1949
FD September 17
VO 141
IS 3
SP 235
OP 235
DO 10.1001/jama.1949.02910030065037
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.1949.02910030065037
AB The primary objective of the authors is "to focus attention upon the modes of action of drugs' rather than upon the synthesis of ever more variants on their chemical structure." In this they have succeeded. They restrict the term chemotherapy to the chemical treatment of diseases of microbial origin. The authors have provided excellent background material which can serve as a basis for determining the rationale of chemotherapy. Stress is placed on the role of enzymes, which is consistent with current knowledge of drug action. Included are chapters on cell metabolism, essential metabolites, enzyme inhibition, drug antagonism, drug resistance and the relation of structure and activity of drugs. While much of the information may be too technical, the book nevertheless serves as a source of information for those who desire a better understanding of the role of chemotherapy in the control of disease.