Current Cancer Drug Targets - Volume 18, Issue 9, 2018

Background: Protein kinase B (PKB/Akt) belongs to the AGC superfamily of related serine/ threonine kinases with three structurally homologous mammalian isoforms, Akt1 (PKBα), Akt2 (PKBβ), and Akt3 (PKBγ). Besides sharing a similar structural topology, the difference in their physiological functions and tissue distribution makes Akt a cardinal node in diverse signaling pathways involving cell growth, survival, and proliferation Read More

Ponatinib is a third generation kinase inhibitor designed to overcome the gatekeeper T315I mutation. In different trials this drug showed inhibitory activity against native BCR-ABL1 kinase and several ABL1 mutations. For this reason, ponatinib is currently indicated for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) in every phase of disease resistant and/or intolerant to dasatinib and nilotinib and for whom imatinib is not indi Read More

Todays, after four decades from the discovery of monoclonal antibodies by Kohler and Milstein in 1975, a dozen of antibodies are used in cancer targeted therapy with different strategies. The success of these antibodies depends on the specificity of antigens expressed on the cancer cells. Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule (EpCAM), a homophilic cell-cell adhesion glycoprotein is a well- known tumor antigen, which expresses Read More

Background: Adaptive upregulation of Androgen Receptor (AR) is the most common event involved in the progression from hormone sensitive to Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer (CRPC). AR signaling remains the main target of new AR signalling-directed therapies such as abiraterone and enzalutamide in CRPC patients. Objective: In this review, we discuss general mechanisms of resistance to AR-targeted therapies, with a f Read More

The standard of treatment for advanced ovarian cancer is represented by optimal surgical debulking preceded or followed by chemotherapeutic regimens including taxanes and platinum agents, possibly associated with bevacizumab and/or intraperitoneal therapy. Despite this comprehensive treatment strategy, almost 75% of patients relapse or progress and are therefore candidates for a second-line treatment, showing, at t Read More

Background: Our previous studies revealed that the downregulation of Suppressor of cytokine signaling 6 (SOCS6) was correlated with malignant progression of human prostate cancer (PCa). Aims: In the current study, we aimed to investigate the tumor suppressive roles of SOCS6 and the underlying mechanisms in PCa. Methods: SOCS6 expression in PCa and non-cancerous prostate tissues was compared by immunohistoc Read More

Background: Recent epidemiological and experimental studies have shown that obesity is a major risk factor for Colorectal Cancer (CRC). Regular intake of high fat-containing diet can promote obesity and metabolic syndrome by increasing the insulin resistance and inflammatory response which contribute to carcinogenesis. Previously, we have shown that inhibition of polyol pathway enzyme aldose reductase (AR) prevents Read More