How Are Mutant Proteins Targeted in Cancer Therapy?
Targeting mutant proteins has become a cornerstone of modern cancer therapy. Therapies are designed to specifically inhibit the function of mutant proteins that drive cancer. For example, Imatinib (Gleevec) is a targeted therapy that inhibits the BCR-ABL fusion protein in CML, leading to remarkable clinical outcomes.
Similarly, PARP inhibitors are effective in treating cancers with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations by exploiting the cancer cells' defective DNA repair mechanisms. Monoclonal antibodies and small molecule inhibitors are also employed to block the activity of mutant proteins or their interactions with other cellular components.
