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Published on: January 11, 2019
Targeted induction of apoptosis for cancer therapy: current progress and prospects
Edwin Bremer1, Go van Dam, Bart Jan Kroesen
1Groningen University Institute for Drug Exploration (GUIDE), Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Section Medical Biology, Laboratory for Tumor Immunology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
Important breakthroughs in cancer therapy include clinical application of antibodies, such as Rituximab, and small inhibitory molecules, such as Iressa and Velcade. In addition, recent reports have indicated the therapeutic potential of physiological pro-apoptotic proteins such as TRAIL and galectin-1. Although unrelated at first glance, each strategy relies on the deliberate and selective induction of apoptosis in malignant cells. Importantly, therapy-resistance in cancer is frequently associated with de-regulation in the mechanisms that control apoptosis. However, cancer cells are often reliant on these molecular aberrations for survival. Therefore, selective induction of apoptosis in cancer cells but not normal cells seems feasible. Here, we review recent progress and prospects of selected novel anti-cancer approaches that specifically target and sensitize cancer cells to apoptosis.
Insights
Novel cancer therapies selectively induce apoptosis in malignant cells, overcoming resistance. This approach targets cancer-specific vulnerabilities for effective treatment with minimal harm to normal cells.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Drug Discovery
Background:
- Current cancer therapies like antibodies (Rituximab) and small molecules (Iressa, Velcade) show success.
- Physiological pro-apoptotic proteins (TRAIL, galectin-1) also demonstrate therapeutic potential.
- Cancer therapy resistance is often linked to dysregulated apoptosis mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review novel anti-cancer strategies.
- To highlight approaches that selectively induce apoptosis in cancer cells.
- To discuss prospects of targeting cancer cell apoptosis.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent scientific literature.
- Analysis of therapeutic strategies targeting apoptosis.
- Evaluation of novel anti-cancer agents.
Main Results:
- Selected novel approaches deliberately and selectively induce apoptosis in malignant cells.
- Cancer cells' reliance on aberrant apoptosis pathways presents a therapeutic vulnerability.
- Selective apoptosis induction in cancer cells, sparing normal cells, appears feasible.
Conclusions:
- Targeting and sensitizing cancer cells to apoptosis represents a promising therapeutic avenue.
- Novel strategies focus on exploiting cancer-specific apoptosis dysregulation.
- Further research into these selective apoptosis-inducing agents is warranted for future cancer treatment.
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