What are the Steps Involved in Cancer Drug Screening?
Drug screening typically involves several key steps:
Target Identification: Determining the specific molecules or pathways in cancer cells that a drug should target. High-Throughput Screening (HTS): Using automated systems to quickly test thousands of compounds for activity against the target. Hit-to-Lead Optimization: Refining the initial hits from HTS to improve their potency, selectivity, and pharmacokinetic properties. Preclinical Testing: Conducting studies in cell lines and animal models to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the lead compounds. Clinical Trials: Assessing the drug in human patients through a series of phased trials to ensure its safety and efficacy.