Proteasome inhibitors work by blocking the proteasome's ability to degrade ubiquitinated proteins. This leads to the accumulation of these proteins within the cell, disrupting various signaling pathways and cellular processes. The accumulation of defective proteins can trigger apoptosis, or programmed cell death, in cancer cells. This mechanism is particularly effective in multiple myeloma and certain types of lymphoma, where the rapid turnover of proteins is crucial for tumor growth.
