Transcription factors and neoplasia: vistas in novel drug design.

Abstract

The fundamental role of gene transcription and the recognition of transcription factors as important control elements of cell growth, differentiation, and programmed cell death (apoptosis) aroused an ever-increasing interest for these proteins as potential pharmaceutical targets for therapeutic intervention in various diseases, among them cancer. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN-RESULTS: The vast array of information available for their molecular architecture and mode of action in various biological contexts, combined with the new opportunities offered by the flourishing technologies of structure-based drug design, computer-aided modeling, and functional genomics/proteomics, are creating an exciting scenery for the development of a novel generation of highly selective drugs. This transcription factor-based therapeutic approach may revolutionize the anticancer drug options and will add significantly to the current clinical armamentarium.