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Targeting ICMT: A promising strategy in cancer treatment (Review)

Jinghong Hu1, Ying Xiao1, Jingyi Tang1

  • 1School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing 400054, P.R. China.

Oncology Letters
|March 25, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Isoprenylcysteine carboxymethyltransferase (ICMT) is key in protein prenylation, a process vital for cell functions. Inhibiting ICMT may offer a new strategy to combat cancer by disrupting tumor growth and spread.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Protein prenylation is a critical post-translational modification regulating protein function in cellular processes.
  • Isoprenylcysteine carboxymethyltransferase (ICMT) is the terminal enzyme in prenylation, modifying proteins with CAAX or CXC motifs.
  • ICMT activity influences protein localization and biological activity, impacting cell signaling pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current knowledge on ICMT-mediated protein modification and its regulatory mechanisms.
  • To summarize the role of ICMT in cancer progression and associated signaling pathways.
  • To discuss the therapeutic potential of targeting ICMT in oncology.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on protein prenylation and ICMT.
  • Analysis of research on ICMT's role in cancer cell phenotypes.
  • Synthesis of data on ICMT inhibitors and their effects.

Main Results:

  • ICMT inhibition disrupts cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion.
  • Targeting ICMT attenuates the functional dependency of RAS proteins on prenylation.
  • ICMT is an important regulator of cancer-associated signaling.

Conclusions:

  • ICMT plays a significant role in cancer progression.
  • ICMT inhibition presents a promising therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment.
  • Further research into ICMT-targeted therapies is warranted.
Keywords:
ICMTRASRabRhobreast cancerpancreatic cancer

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