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Chemical synthetic approaches to mimic the TRAIL: promising cancer therapeutics

Abdullah-Al Masum1, Shin Aoki2,3,4, Md Mahbubur Rahman1

  • 1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North South University Bashundhara R/A Dhaka-1229 Bangladesh abdullah.masum01@northsouth.edu.

RSC Medicinal Chemistry
|September 9, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Chemically synthesized therapeutics mimicking tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) show promise for cancer treatment. This review explores TRAIL-based drugs, focusing on chemical synthesis for improved cancer apoptosis induction.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is crucial for maintaining homeostasis and preventing cancer genesis.
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand (TRAIL) selectively induces apoptosis in cancer cells via death receptors (DR4/DR5), sparing normal cells.
  • TRAIL-based therapeutics represent a promising strategy for cancer treatment due to their targeted action.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review chemically synthesized TRAIL/DR-based therapeutics for cancer treatment.
  • To discuss the chemical and biological behavior of these synthesized compounds.
  • To explore design concepts and strategies for enhancing TRAIL/DR-based therapeutic efficacy.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on chemically synthesized TRAIL/DR-based therapeutics.
  • Analysis of pre-clinical and clinical data for TRAIL-based agents.
  • Evaluation of chemical synthesis approaches and their impact on therapeutic properties.

Main Results:

  • Biotechnologically derived TRAIL therapeutics (rhTRAIL, agonistic antibodies) are safe but show variable clinical efficacy.
  • Chemically synthesized TRAIL/DR-based therapeutics demonstrate significant in vitro and in vivo efficacy.
  • Chemical synthesis offers a viable alternative for developing potent TRAIL-based cancer drugs.

Conclusions:

  • Chemically synthesized TRAIL/DR-based therapeutics offer a promising avenue for improving cancer treatment efficacy.
  • Further research into design strategies for chemical synthesis can enhance the therapeutic potential of TRAIL-based agents.
  • Targeted induction of apoptosis via TRAIL pathway modulation remains a key strategy in oncology.

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