TRAIL and Bortezomib: Killing Cancer with Two Stones

Abstract

Cancer genomics and proteomics have undergone considerable broadening in the past decades and increasinglyit is being realized that solid/liquid phase microarrays and high-throughput resequencing have provided platformsto improve our existing knowledge of determinants of cancer development, progression and survival. Loss ofapoptosis is a widely and deeply studied process and different approaches are being used to restore apoptosis inresistant cancer phenotype. Modulating the balance between pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic proteins is essentialto induce apoptosis. It is becoming more understood that pharmacological inhibition of the proteasome mightprove to be an effective option in improving TRAIL induced apoptosis in cancer cells. Keeping in view rapidlyaccumulating evidence of carcinogenesis, metastasis, resistance against wide ranging therapeutics and loss ofapoptosis, better knowledge regarding tumor suppressors, oncogenes, pro-apoptotic and anti-apotptic proteinswill be helpful in translating the findings from benchtop to bedside.