Targeting tumor suppressor genes for cancer therapy

Y Liu, X Hu, C Han, L Wang, X Zhang, X He, X Lu - Bioessays, 2015 - Wiley Online Library
Y Liu, X Hu, C Han, L Wang, X Zhang, X He, X Lu
Bioessays, 2015Wiley Online Library
Cancer drugs are broadly classified into two categories: cytotoxic chemotherapies and
targeted therapies that specifically modulate the activity of one or more proteins involved in
cancer. Major advances have been achieved in targeted cancer therapies in the past few
decades, which is ascribed to the increasing understanding of molecular mechanisms for
cancer initiation and progression. Consequently, monoclonal antibodies and small
molecules have been developed to interfere with a specific molecular oncogenic target …
Cancer drugs are broadly classified into two categories: cytotoxic chemotherapies and targeted therapies that specifically modulate the activity of one or more proteins involved in cancer. Major advances have been achieved in targeted cancer therapies in the past few decades, which is ascribed to the increasing understanding of molecular mechanisms for cancer initiation and progression. Consequently, monoclonal antibodies and small molecules have been developed to interfere with a specific molecular oncogenic target. Targeting gain‐of‐function mutations, in general, has been productive. However, it has been a major challenge to use standard pharmacologic approaches to target loss‐of‐function mutations of tumor suppressor genes. Novel approaches, including synthetic lethality and collateral vulnerability screens, are now being developed to target gene defects in p53, PTEN, and BRCA1/2. Here, we review and summarize the recent findings in cancer genomics, drug development, and molecular cancer biology, which show promise in targeting tumor suppressors in cancer therapeutics.
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