Proteasome inhibitors are a class of drugs that block the action of proteasomes, cellular complexes that degrade proteins. In the context of cancer, these inhibitors are particularly important because they can disrupt the regulated degradation of proteins necessary for cancer cell survival and proliferation. Proteasomes are responsible for breaking down ubiquitinated proteins, and inhibiting this process can induce cancer cell death, making proteasome inhibitors a valuable tool in cancer therapy.
