New Molecule Targets Prohibitin to Trigger Apoptosis

the Cancer Therapy Advisor take:

According to new findings published in the journal Angewandte Chemical - International Edition, researchers from the University of Barcelona in Barcelona, Spain, have developed a novel compound that has demonstrated a high potency for inducing apoptosis in a variety of cancer cell lines.

The new compound targets a protein called prohibitin, which is involved tumoral processes like proliferation and apoptosis. The new class of compounds, trifluorinated thiazolines (TFTs), inhibit the function of prohibitins. The researchers hope that the newly discovered compound will lead to the discovery of compounds of the same class that better inhibit prohibitins.

The researchers say that this novel molecule can be synthesized directly, meaning it is easier to obtain it methodologically and economically. In addition, they found that it triggers apoptosis by inhibiting prohibitin without affecting protein p53. p53 is altered or unexpressed in more than 50% of human cancers.

Furthermore, the researchers proved that the new compound does not trigger apoptosis in cancer cells that do not express prohibitin. The researchers hope that this class of compounds will lead to new drug discoveries and cancer treatments.