IAPs as therapeutic targets in haematological malignancies.
BACKGROUND
Regulation of apoptosis is fundamental to maintain the balance between cell survival and cell death. Disruption of this process may have severe consequences, contributing to carcinogenesis. Therapeutic targeting of the proteins that control apoptosis may therefore be used in the treatment of various types of cancer.


OBJECTIVE
We address whether regulators of apoptosis could be suitable targets for the treatment of haematological cancers.


METHODS
We focus on the emerging role of inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) proteins in cancer, their modulators and the possibility of therapeutically targeting these proteins in haematological cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
IAPs have emerged as an important novel class of intracellular proteins that regulate apoptosis. Various compounds have been described that may be used to modulate the activity of IAPs, which opens the way to therapeutically targeting these proteins in cancer.
Langemeijer
S M C
SM
Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen Centre for Molecular Life Sciences (NCMLS), Central Haematology Laboratory, Department CHL-462, Geert Grooteplein zuid 8, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
de Graaf
A O
AO
Jansen
J H
JH
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D015195:Drug Design; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D020169:Caspases