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Identification of Potential Molecular Targets of Doxorubicin for Application in Skin Cancer: A Network Pharmacology

Sonali Karhana1, Sanjula Baboota2, Mohd Ashif Khan1

  • 1Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India.

Assay and Drug Development Technologies
|June 30, 2025
PubMed

Insights

This study identifies key pharmacological targets of doxorubicin for skin cancer treatment, including PARP and EGFR. It also predicts mechanisms of doxorubicin resistance, highlighting the need for improved drug delivery strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology
  • Bioinformatics

Background:

  • Doxorubicin is a crucial chemotherapy agent, but its efficacy in skin cancer is limited by resistance.
  • Understanding doxorubicin's precise targets and resistance mechanisms is vital for optimizing treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify pharmacological targets of doxorubicin in skin cancer.
  • To elucidate mechanisms of doxorubicin resistance.
  • To explore therapeutic strategies for enhancing doxorubicin effectiveness.

Main Methods:

  • Database searches and bioinformatics tools (GeneVenn, STRING, Cytoscape) were used to identify and analyze doxorubicin targets.
  • Protein-protein interaction networks and topological analyses pinpointed core targets.
  • Molecular docking assessed drug-target interactions.

Main Results:

  • Five key therapeutic targets for doxorubicin in skin cancer were identified: poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR), heat shock protein 90 alpha family class A member 1 (HSP90AA1), Harvey rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (HRAS), and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR).
  • Potential mechanisms underlying doxorubicin resistance were predicted.
  • Signaling pathways, molecular functions, and biological processes associated with these targets were elucidated.

Conclusions:

  • The identified targets (PARP, EGFR, HSP90AA1, HRAS, mTOR) represent promising avenues for doxorubicin-based skin cancer therapy.
  • Further investigation into novel drug delivery methods is essential to overcome doxorubicin resistance and improve treatment outcomes.
Keywords:
MOEdoxorubicin resistancemolecular dockingnetwork pharmacologyskin cancer

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