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A Mass Spectrometry-Based Approach to Identify Phosphoprotein Phosphatases and their Interactors
10:17

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Published on: April 29, 2022

Protein kinases and phosphatases as therapeutic targets in cancer

Juan-José Ventura1, Angel R Nebreda

  • 1Spanish National Cancer Center (CNIO), Madrid, Spain. jjventura@cnio.es

Clinical & Translational Oncology : Official Publication of the Federation of Spanish Oncology Societies and of the National Cancer Institute of Mexico
|May 2, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Protein kinase inhibitors are promising cancer drugs, offering targeted therapy with fewer side effects than traditional chemotherapy. This review covers over 30 kinase inhibitors, including tyrosine and serine/threonine kinase inhibitors, for cancer treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Pharmacology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Protein phosphorylation is crucial for cellular functions, and its dysregulation is linked to diseases.
  • Protein kinases and phosphatases are key regulators of phosphorylation, making them important drug targets.
  • The success of Gleevec has spurred the development of kinase inhibitors as targeted cancer therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current status of protein kinase inhibitors for cancer treatment.
  • To highlight the therapeutic potential of these targeted agents.
  • To briefly discuss phosphatase inhibitors and combination therapies.

Main Methods:

  • Review of over 30 protein kinase inhibitors.
  • Inclusion of inhibitors targeting receptor and cytosolic tyrosine kinases.
  • Inclusion of inhibitors targeting serine/threonine kinases involved in signaling and cell cycle regulation.

Main Results:

  • Numerous kinase inhibitors show proven or potential therapeutic value in cancer.
  • These inhibitors offer more specificity and reduced toxicity compared to generic chemotherapeutics.
  • Combination therapy targeting deregulated signaling pathways is an emerging strategy.

Conclusions:

  • Protein kinase inhibitors represent a significant advancement in targeted cancer therapy.
  • Further development of kinase and phosphatase inhibitors holds great promise for oncology.
  • Combination strategies may enhance treatment efficacy for various cancers.

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