Cancer remains one of the most challenging and complex diseases to combat, necessitating innovative therapeutic approaches that specifically target vulnerabilities within cancer cells. This article delves into the emerging landscape of cancer drug targets for precision therapies, focusing on the concept of targeting the "Achilles' heel" of cancer cells. Precision therapies aim to exploit unique molecular aberrations and vulnerabilities present in cancer cells, while sparing normal tissues, thereby enhancing treatment efficacy and minimizing adverse effects. The identification and validation of cancer drug targets require comprehensive genomic and proteomic analyses, uncovering key driver mutations, altered signaling pathways, and dysregulated cellular processes. Targeted therapies are designed to inhibit specific oncogenic drivers, leading to selective disruption of cancer cell growth and survival. This tailored approach holds great promise for improving patient outcomes, particularly in the context of aggressive and drugresistant cancers. In this review, we discuss various cancer drug targets that have shown exceptional promise in preclinical and clinical settings. We explore targeted therapies directed against oncogenic kinases, growth factor receptors, cell cycle regulators, and epigenetic modifiers. Additionally, we highlight the significance of immuno-oncology targets, harnessing the power of the immune system to recognize and eliminate cancer cells. The evolution of precision oncology has been significantly fueled by advances in molecular profiling technologies, allowing for the identification of specific biomarkers that predict response to targeted therapies. Furthermore, the integration of artificial intelligence and bioinformatics has facilitated the development of predictive models and drug response classifiers, enabling personalized treatment strategies based on individual tumor characteristics. Despite remarkable progress, challenges remain in cancer drug targeting, including the development of resistance mechanisms and the heterogeneity of tumor populations. Combination therapies and rational drug design are being explored to overcome these challenges, as well as to mitigate potential adverse effects associated with targeted therapies.
KeywordsCancer; Drug targets; Precision therapies; Precision oncology; Oncogenic drivers
Published Date: 2023-08-31; Received Date: 2023-08-03
