Mini Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry - Volume 10, Issue 6, 2010

Increasing evidence demonstrates that three classes of molecules originally derived from all-trans-retinoic acid and its synthetic analogues, which function by interacting with the retinoid nuclear receptors, exert their anticancer activities through alternative signaling pathways. Thus, the methylene-linked analogues (4-HBR, 4-HPRCG, and 4-HBRCG) of N-(4-hydroxyphenyl) retinamide (4-HPR) and its O-glucuronide metabolit Read More

Tea (Camellia sinensis), a popular beverage, is consumed worldwide. The biological activities and mechanism( s) of chemopreventive effects of green tea polyphenols (monomeric catechins) have been extensively studied, while similar information regarding newly formed major black tea polyphenols (BTPs-oligomeric, polymeric) is not available. Therefore, this review focuses mainly on compiling the evidence on chemopre Read More

Progesterone is a major female steroid hormone produced by the ovarian corpus luteum and by the placental syncyiotrophoblast during the second trimester. The biological effects of this steroid hormone are mediated by the ubiquitously expressed progesterone receptor. The exact link between progesterone and female reproductive organ cancer is a controversial issue with various cross-talks. The present review summarizes re Read More

MDM2 protein negatively regulates p53 and is found to be elevated in cancer cells. An attractive approach towards targeting MDM2 is the use of small molecule inhibitors that bind to MDM2 and disrupt the MDM2-p53 interaction. Our laboratory has been at the forefront in testing MDM2 inhibitors in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PaCa), a deadly disease with ~50% wild-type p53 population. Emerging evidence suggests that Read More

Cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6 (Cdk4/6) are important components of cell cycle activation and control in early G1 phase. Both enzymes and their regulators, e.g., cyclins, play critical roles in embryogenesis, homeostasis, and cancerogenesis. Cdk4/6 are attractive targets for cancer treatment. Recently, numerous selective small molecule inhibitors of Cdk4/6 have been developed. The potential of Cdk4/6 inhibitors, particularly, p Read More

Natural products are an abundant source of anti cancer agents. They act as cytotoxic drugs, and inhibitors of apoptosis, transcription, cell proliferation and angiogenesis. While pathways targeted by natural products have been well studied, there is paucity of information about the in vivo molecular target/s of these compounds. This review summarizes some of the natural compounds for which the molecular targets, Read More

Phenolics including many polyphenols and flavonoids have the potentials to become chemoprevention and chemotherapy agents. However, poor bioavailability limits their biological effects in vivo. This paper reviews the factors that affect phenolics absorption and their bioavailabilities from the points of view of their physicochemical properties and disposition in the gastrointestinal tract. The up-to-date research data suggested t Read More