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Caspase-8: Friend or Foe in Bortezomib/Lenalidomide-Based Therapy for Myeloma

Liang Zhou1

  • 1Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China.

Frontiers in Oncology
|March 24, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Caspase-8 plays a dual role in multiple myeloma treatment. While it promotes apoptosis, inhibiting it enhances the antiproliferative effects of bortezomib and lenalidomide.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Multiple myeloma is treated with drugs targeting proliferation and apoptosis.
  • Bortezomib (proteasome inhibitor) and lenalidomide (immunomodulatory drug) are key therapies.
  • These drugs activate caspase-8, inducing myeloma cell apoptosis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review molecular mechanisms of caspase-8 in bortezomib-lenalidomide therapy for multiple myeloma.
  • To explore caspase-8's roles in myeloma cell proliferation and apoptosis.
  • To discuss future directions for caspase-8-based multiple myeloma treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent advances.
  • Analysis of molecular mechanisms.
  • Exploration of caspase-8 functions in myeloma cells.

Main Results:

  • Bortezomib and lenalidomide activate caspase-8, promoting myeloma cell apoptosis.
  • Caspase-8 inhibition potentiated the antiproliferative effects of these drugs.
  • This suggests caspase-8 regulates proliferation and apoptosis via opposing pathways.

Conclusions:

  • Caspase-8 has a complex role in multiple myeloma therapy.
  • Targeting caspase-8 may offer novel therapeutic strategies.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate caspase-8's full potential in myeloma treatment.
Keywords:
apoptosisbortezomibcaspase-8lenalidomidemyeloma cellproliferation

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