TRAIL on trial: preclinical advances in cancer therapy.
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand, or TRAIL, is a promising anticancer agent as it can induce apoptosis in a wide range of cancers whilst generally sparing non-malignant cells. However, the translation of TRAIL into the clinic has been confounded by its short half-life, inadequate delivery methods, and TRAIL-resistant cancer cell populations. In this review, we discuss how TRAIL has been functionalized to diversify its traditional tumor-killing role and novel strategies to facilitate its effective deployment in preclinical cancer models. The successes and failures of the most recent clinical trials using TRAIL agonists are highlighted and we provide a perspective for improving its clinical implementation.
Molecular Neurotherapy and Imaging Laboratory, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
Daniel W
DW
Stuckey
Khalid
K
Shah
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand
TRAIL; apoptosis; cancer; stem cells; targeted therapy