Chemical compounds specially designed to neutralize proteins that would otherwise allow tumor cells to cheat death have been recognized for some time by scientists as a promising new avenue for cancer therapy. Now, two studies in the November 16, 2007 issue of the journal Cell, a publication of Cell Press, provide insight into just how these antagonists of the anti-death—so-called Inhibitor-of-Apoptosis (IAP)—proteins work to fight tumors. The researchers reveal that the compounds hit specific IAP proteins known as cIAPs. That came as a surprise, they said, because the chemicals had originally been designed to target another of the anti-death proteins. The studies further show that the small molecule inhibitors not only block the death-defying proteins, but they also actively engage other players that lead to the death of tumor cells. Meanwhile, the chemicals seem to have little effect on healthy cells.
