Targeting pan-essential genes in cancer: challenges and opportunities.

Cancer Cell
Authors
Abstract

Despite remarkable successes in the clinic, cancer targeted therapy development remains challenging and the failure rate is disappointingly high. This problem is partly due to the misapplication of the targeted therapy paradigm to therapeutics targeting pan-essential genes, which can result in therapeutics whereby efficacy is attenuated by dose-limiting toxicity. Here we summarize the key features of successful chemotherapy and targeted therapy agents, and use case studies to outline recurrent challenges to drug development efforts targeting pan-essential genes. Finally, we suggest strategies to avoid previous pitfalls for ongoing and future development of pan-essential therapeutics.

Year of Publication
2021
Journal
Cancer Cell
Date Published
2021 Jan 14
ISSN
1878-3686
DOI
10.1016/j.ccell.2020.12.008
PubMed ID
33450197
Links