The concept of chemotherapy as originated by Paul Ehrlich is based on the premise that
antiparasitic drugs must have two properties: they must first bind to specific structures of
the parasite which Ehrlich called chemoreceptors. Subsequent to their attachment to the
chemoreceptor and by virtue of this binding they must possess the capacity to kill the
parasite. Since the host which is to be cured of an invading parasite also contains a large
number of chemoreceptors that have the potential to bind toxic compounds the task of the
chemo therapist is to identify chemoreceptors of the parasite which are . not represented in
the host and to design drugs which bind selectively to them~ In this context Ehrlich called·
for the complete and exhaustive knowledge of all the different chemoreceptors of a certain
parasite as a sine qua non for success in chemotherapy. Paradoxically and in spite of the fact
that chemotherapy has become a very advanced and successful therapeutic discipline few of its
tri umphs have been achieved by following Ehrlich's original precepts. On the contrary in the
overwhelming majority of cases effective drugs have been discovered without any knowledge of
their chemoreceptors and these drugs themselves have conversely been used as tools to study
the nature of the chemoreceptors involved. In other words: chemother apy notably
antibacterial chemotherapy has been successful without ever living up to the fundamental
standards put forward by Paul Ehr lich.
