Harnessing natural inhibitors of protein synthesis for cancer therapy: A comprehensive review

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Updated: Jun 11, 2025

Development of Inhibitors of Protein-protein Interactions through REPLACE: Application to the Design and Development Non-ATP Competitive CDK Inhibitors
10:33

Development of Inhibitors of Protein-protein Interactions through REPLACE: Application to the Design and Development Non-ATP Competitive CDK Inhibitors

Published on: October 26, 2015

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Liqin Liu1, Zhihui Li1, Wenshuang Wu1

  • 1Division of Thyroid Surgery, Department of General Surgery and Laboratory of Thyroid and Parathyroid Disease, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.

Pharmacological Research
|October 5, 2024
PubMed

Insights

This review explores how protein synthesis pathways drive cancer initiation and progression. It highlights natural product inhibitors of protein synthesis as promising, evolutionarily honed anticancer therapeutics.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Cancer remains a significant medical challenge, requiring deeper understanding of its molecular basis.
  • Protein synthesis pathways are increasingly recognized as critical in oncogenesis.
  • Targeting these pathways offers potential for novel cancer therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of protein synthesis pathways in cancer.
  • To examine natural products as inhibitors of protein synthesis for cancer therapy.
  • To synthesize current evidence, challenges, and opportunities in this field.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of molecular mechanisms in cancer.
  • Analysis of natural product compounds and their effects on protein synthesis.
  • Synthesis of recent advancements and mechanistic insights.

Main Results:

  • Protein synthesis pathways play a multifaceted role in tumor initiation and progression.
  • Natural products offer diverse structures with potential as protein synthesis inhibitors.
  • Targeting key nodes in protein synthesis presents viable therapeutic strategies.

Conclusions:

  • Natural product-derived inhibitors of protein synthesis are promising anticancer agents.
  • Further research is needed to develop these natural compounds into clinical therapeutics.
  • This review aims to stimulate development of natural product-based cancer treatments.
Keywords:
Cancer treatmentMolecular mechanismsNatural productsProtein synthesisTherapeutic targets

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