Transcription factors and neoplasia: vistas in novel drug design.
OBJECTIVE
The fundamental role of gene transcription and the recognition of transcription factors as important control elements of cell growth, differentiation, and programmed cell death (apoptosis) aroused an ever-increasing interest for these proteins as potential pharmaceutical targets for therapeutic intervention in various diseases, among them cancer. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN-RESULTS: The vast array of information available for their molecular architecture and mode of action in various biological contexts, combined with the new opportunities offered by the flourishing technologies of structure-based drug design, computer-aided modeling, and functional genomics/proteomics, are creating an exciting scenery for the development of a novel generation of highly selective drugs.


CONCLUSIONS
This transcription factor-based therapeutic approach may revolutionize the anticancer drug options and will add significantly to the current clinical armamentarium.
Karamouzis
Mihalis V
MV
Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Patras, GR-26110, Greece.
Gorgoulis
Vassilis G
VG
Papavassiliou
Athanasios G
AG
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015195:Drug Design; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014157:Transcription Factors