PROTACs: Promising Approaches for Epigenetic Strategies to Overcome Drug Resistance.

TitlePROTACs: Promising Approaches for Epigenetic Strategies to Overcome Drug Resistance.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2021
AuthorsGiardina SF, Valdambrini E, J Warren D, Barany F
JournalCurr Cancer Drug Targets
Volume21
Issue4
Pagination306-325
Date Published2021
ISSN1873-5576
KeywordsDrug Discovery, Drug Resistance, Neoplasm, Epigenesis, Genetic, Epigenome, Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic, Humans, Molecular Targeted Therapy, Neoplasms, Proteolysis
Abstract

Epigenetic modulation of gene expression is essential for tissue-specific development and maintenance in mammalian cells. Disruption of epigenetic processes, and the subsequent alteration of gene functions, can result in inappropriate activation or inhibition of various cellular signaling pathways, leading to cancer. Recent advancements in the understanding of the role of epigenetics in cancer initiation and progression have uncovered functions for DNA methylation, histone modifications, nucleosome positioning, and non-coding RNAs. Epigenetic therapies have shown some promise for hematological malignancies, and a wide range of epigenetic-based drugs are undergoing clinical trials. However, in a dynamic survival strategy, cancer cells exploit their heterogeneous population which frequently results in the rapid acquisition of therapy resistance. Here, we describe novel approaches in drug discovery targeting the epigenome, highlighting recent advances the selective degradation of target proteins using Proteolysis Targeting Chimera (PROTAC) to address drug resistance.

DOI10.2174/1568009621666210203110857
Alternate JournalCurr Cancer Drug Targets
PubMed ID33535953

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