Title:Exploring the Mitochondrial Apoptotic Cell Death Landscape and Associated Components Serving as Molecular Targets, Primarily for Synthetic and Natural Drugs Targeting Oncology Therapeutics
Volume: 14
Author(s): Ishnoor Kaur, Tapan Behl*, Monika Sachdeva, Simona Bungau and Thangavel Venkatachalam
Affiliation:
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab,India
Keywords:
Mitochondria, apoptosis signaling, extrinsic, intrinsic, molecular targets, anti-cancer drugs, programmed celldeath.
Abstract: The role of mitochondria in the apoptosis signaling cell death pathway is regulated by
extrinsic and intrinsic pathway, encompassing multiple components like the Bcl-2 family of proteins,
death receptors, caspases, Smac/DIABLO, IAPs, Omi/HtrA2 and cytochrome c. These entities
serve as effective molecular targets for numerous drugs targeting mitochondrial apoptotic pathways,
mainly emphasizing oncology therapeutics. Defective apoptosis is an acquired hallmark of
cancer cells, which promotes the establishment of apoptosis-targeting anti-cancer drugs in cancer
treatment. The review provides an overview of the Bcl-2 inhibiting, IAPs antagonizing, caspase inhibiting
and BH3 mimicking actions, mediated by anti-cancer drugs, rendering beneficial outcomes
in different forms of cancer. The authors elaborate on the significance of synthetic and natural
agents, targeting the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, in ameliorating tumor cell growth in the
body, and the specificity and effectiveness of these agents, motivating the researchers to explore mitochondrial
apoptosis targeting of anti-tumor drugs of both herbal and synthetic origin. Thus, the review
aims to predict this dynamic approach in oncology, simultaneously highlighting the challenges
and future prospects, providing an opportunity to the experts to “go over with a fine tooth
comb” in understanding this “programmed cell death pathway”, and establishing reliability and accuracy
of this therapeutic paradigm in the upcoming future.
