Natural Compounds as Protease Inhibitors in Therapeutic Focus on Cancer Therapy

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Molecular Biology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Proteases play critical roles in all hallmarks of cancer, making them essential targets for therapeutic intervention.
• Maintaining intracellular protein homeostasis (proteome balance) is vital for cancer cell survival and proliferation.
• Natural compounds are being investigated as ligands to target proteases in various cellular compartments for anticancer drug discovery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the structure and function of key tumor-related proteases.
• To highlight natural compound inhibitors targeting these proteases.
• To discuss novel therapeutic strategies and future perspectives for protease-targeted cancer therapy.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of scientific databases focusing on proteases in cancer.
• Analysis of structural and chemical biology breakthroughs in protease modulator development.
• Compilation of natural compounds with anticancer properties targeting proteases.

Main Results:

• Identification of various proteases implicated in cancer progression.
• Overview of natural compounds acting as inhibitors or modulators of tumor-associated proteases.
• Discussion of the mechanisms underlying protease-mediated pathways in cancer.

Conclusions:

• Natural compounds targeting proteases represent a promising avenue for novel anticancer drug development.
• Understanding protease structure-function relationships and inhibitor mechanisms is crucial for advancing cancer therapeutics.
• Further research into natural protease modulators could lead to innovative therapeutic approaches.