Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 30, 2026
08:49
Identification of Mediators of T-cell Receptor Signaling via the Screening of Chemical Inhibitor Libraries
Published on: January 22, 2019
The Pim kinases: new targets for drug development
Ronan Swords1, Kevin Kelly, Jennifer Carew
1Cancer Therapy and Research Center, Institute for Drug Development, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7979 Wurzbach Road, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA. swordsr@uthscsa.edu
Current Drug Targets
|July 23, 2011
Summary
Pim kinases are crucial for cancer development and progression. Novel small molecule inhibitors targeting these constitutively active enzymes are in preclinical development for cancer therapy.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Oncology
Background:
- Pim kinases are serine/threonine kinases involved in cancer development.
- They are constitutively active due to the absence of a regulatory domain.
- Pim kinases are downstream effectors of oncogenes like ABL, JAK2, and Flt-3.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the role of Pim kinases in cancer.
- To discuss their function as inhibitors of apoptosis and in conferring resistance to rapamycin.
- To present Pim kinases as attractive targets for cancer pharmacotherapy.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of Pim kinase function and involvement in tumorigenesis.
- Analysis of Pim kinase overexpression in various hematological and solid tumors.
- Overview of novel small molecule inhibitor development.
Main Results:
- Pim kinases regulate fundamental cancer signaling pathways.
- Overexpression of Pim kinases is linked to hematological and solid tumors.
- Pim kinases inhibit apoptosis and confer resistance to mTOR inhibitors.
Conclusions:
- Pim kinases are key drivers of tumorigenesis and apoptosis resistance.
- Targeting Pim kinases represents a promising strategy for cancer treatment.
- Novel small molecule inhibitors are under preclinical evaluation.
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