Chapter 5

Proteasome Inhibition in Hematological Malignancies

Guilherme Augusto Silva dos Santos

Abstract

The 26S proteasome is a large multi-subunit complex responsible for the ATP-dependent degradation of ubiquitylated proteins, a critical process for signal transduction and regulation of transcription and receptor function. In cancer, deregulation of this process may contribute to progression, drug resistance and altered immune surveillance. Proteasome inhibition (PI) cause cellular apoptosis by affecting levels of short-lived proteins, by inhibition of NFκB activity and increased activity of p53, Bax and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p27 and p21. Preclinical studies showed that malignant cells are more susceptible to PI than normal cells. Although a concrete explanation for this selectivity is not available yet, one possibility is that sensitivity is linked to proliferation and/or deregulated cell cycle progression. Numerous proteasome inhibitors have been developed and the first approved, bortezomib is a boronic acid dipeptide that binds directly to the 20S proteasome and blocks its enzymatic activity.

Total Pages: 34-49 (16)

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