Session Speaker

Translational Cancer Research Using Novel Clinically Relevant Proteasome Inhibitors and Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors
Joya Chandra
USA

Drug development in recent years has experienced enormous growth due to increased knowledge regarding the molecular basis for diseases and the ability to generate compounds that can target specific cellular targets. The benefits of this pharmacological renaissance have been particularly apparent in oncology translational research, where unique biochemical features of cancer cells can be identified and subsequently targeted using small molecules. In pediatric oncology, leukemia is the most common type of cancer and brain tumors are the deadliest malignancy. Therefore, our efforts have been directed towards identifying efficacious new therapies for these diseases with the goal of curing these patients and minimizing long term detrimental effects of the drug regimens. Here, we focus on two distinct classes of new agents: proteasome inhibitors and histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) and highlight a specific agent within each class as possessing unique properties with potential therapeutic benefit. NPI-0052 is a proteasome inhibitor distinct from bortezomib, which is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). PCI-24781 is an HDACi which targets a distinct class of HDAC’s more specifically than does vorinostat, the only FDA approved HDACi. The mechanism of action of these agents and their clinical utility will be discussed.