Can Targeting the ER be a Therapeutic Strategy in Cancer?
Yes, targeting the ER and the UPR pathways represents a promising therapeutic strategy. Drugs that exacerbate ER stress or inhibit the adaptive UPR can push cancer cells over the edge, leading to cell death. For example, bortezomib, a proteasome inhibitor used in multiple myeloma, induces ER stress by preventing the degradation of misfolded proteins, thereby overwhelming the cancer cell's capacity to manage ER stress.
