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Potential Therapeutic Agents Against Par-4 Target for Cancer Treatment: Where Are We Going?

Renata Virgínia Cavalcanti Santos1, Wanessa Layssa Batista de Sena1, Flaviana Alves Dos Santos1

  • 1Laboratory of Immunomodulation and New Therapeutical Approaches, Research Centre for Therapeutic Innovation Suely Galdino (NUPIT-SG), Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.

Current Drug Targets
|November 27, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Prostate apoptosis response-4 (Par-4) is a tumor suppressor protein that induces cancer cell death. This review explores molecules that can increase Par-4 levels as a potential cancer therapy alternative.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Therapeutics

Background:

  • Finding selective cancer therapeutic targets remains a significant challenge.
  • Prostate apoptosis response-4 (Par-4) is a tumor suppressor protein selectively inducing apoptosis in cancer cells.
  • Downregulation of Par-4 correlates with poor prognosis and treatment resistance in various cancers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review molecules and drugs capable of upregulating Par-4.
  • To explore Par-4 as a druggable target and therapeutic strategy.
  • To clarify Par-4's role in cancer localization and function.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on Par-4.
  • Analysis of molecules and drugs affecting Par-4 expression.
  • Review of Par-4's function and localization in cancer.

Main Results:

  • Gene therapy approaches to increase Par-4 expression face complexity and hurdles.
  • Several molecules and drugs show potential for upregulating Par-4.
  • Par-4's specific role in cancer apoptosis is highlighted.

Conclusions:

  • Upregulating Par-4 presents a viable therapeutic strategy.
  • Molecules that enhance Par-4 levels offer an alternative to gene therapy.
  • Further research into Par-4 targeted therapies is warranted.
Keywords:
Par-4 localizationProstate apoptosis response-4therapeutic innovationtherapeutic proteintherapeutic targettumor suppressor protein.

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