Given their central role in apoptosis, caspases are considered potential targets for cancer therapy. Strategies to restore or enhance caspase activity in cancer cells include:
1. Small Molecule Activators: Compounds that can directly activate procaspases or mimic their activation can induce apoptosis in cancer cells. For example, procaspase activating compound-1 (PAC-1) has shown promise in preclinical studies.
2. IAP Inhibitors: Targeting IAPs with small molecules can free caspases from inhibition, promoting apoptosis. Several IAP inhibitors, such as SMAC mimetics, are being tested in clinical trials.
3. Gene Therapy: Introducing or restoring the expression of functional caspases through gene therapy approaches is another potential strategy. This method, however, faces challenges such as delivery efficiency and targeted expression.
