Current Cancer Drug Targets - Volume 9, Issue 2, 2009

The natural polyamines (PA), putrescine (PUT), spermidine (SPD) and spermine (SPM) are ubiquitous constituents of eukaryotic cells. The increase of PA in malignant and proliferating cells attracted the interest of scientists during last decades, addressing PA depletion as a new strategy to inhibit cell growth. Selective enzyme inhibitors were developed for decreasing PA metabolism and to act as chemotherapeutic anticancer agen Read More

The mitotic spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) is an essential control system of the eukaryotic cell cycle. This surveillance mechanism monitors the kinetochore, the multi-component complex that assembles on the centromeric DNA and attaches chromosomes to the microtubules of the spindle. The recruitment of mitotic checkpoint proteins to kinetochores that are not correctly attached to microtubules initiates a signalling casc Read More

Retinoic acid receptor beta 2 (RARβ2) isoform has been considered a putative tumor suppressor because it is expressed in normal cells but is lacking in most tumors, including breast cancer. Recently, we identified a novel RARβ isoform (β5) in breast cancer cells, which may sereve as a potential target of retinoids in cancer prevention and therapy studies. In this review are summarized the data on the expression of RARβ Read More

Overexpression of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) represents a biological subclass of breast cancer with distinct molecular alterations, clinical behavior, and response to systemic therapy. Trastuzumab is a monoclonal antibody directed against HER-2 which has revolutionized the management of both early and advanced breast cancer. It may exert its anti-cancer effects through inhibition of intra Read More

The Akt pathway, or more accurately, network, has assumed increasing importance with the understanding that it represents a key role in cancer cell survival and proliferation. Intense efforts to target proteins and enzymes within this pathway with highly selective compounds have led to the development of diverse agents now in Phase I - III clinical trials. Moreover, the notion that exploitation of multiple “druggable” targets si Read More

Myc family genes are often deregulated in embryonal tumors of childhood including medulloblastoma and neuroblastoma and are frequently associated with aggressive, poorly differentiated tumors. The Myc protein is a transcription factor that regulates a variety of cellular processes including cell growth and proliferation, cell cycle progression, differentiation, apoptosis, and cell motility. Potential strategies that either i Read More

Previously, we described a series of salicylhydrazide compounds with potent anti-cancer activities against a panel of human cancer cell lines derived from different origins. Preclinical evaluation showing efficacy both in vitro and in vivo in human cancer models indicated that these agents may represent a promising class of anticancer drugs. In the present study, we performed an in-depth investigation on the underlying m Read More

Lipophilic derivatives of the anticancer drug paclitaxel (PTX) were prepared by means of its conjugation to lipoamino acid (LAA) residues, with the aim of increasing drug accumulation in tumor cells. PTX was linked to the methyl esters of norleucine (C6) or 2-aminodecanoic acid (C10). A succinic acid group was used as a spacer to link the 2'-hydroxyl group of PTX and the LAA residue, respectively by means of an ester an Read More

Despite the improved understanding of nitric oxide (NO) biology and the large amount of preclinical experiments testing its role in cancer development and progression, it is still debated whether NO should be considered a potential anticancer agent or instead a carcinogen. The complexity of NO effects whitin a cell and the variability of the final biological outcome depending upon NO levels makes it highly challen Read More

A large number of novel therapeutics is currently undergoing clinical evaluation for the treatment of prostate cancer, and small molecule signal transduction inhibitors are a promising class of agents. These inhibitors have recently become a standard therapy in renal cell carcinoma and offer significant promise in prostate cancer. Through an understanding of the key pathways involved in prostate cancer progression, a rationa Read More