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Review
. 2021 Jul;98(1):144-165.
doi: 10.1111/cbdd.13860. Epub 2021 May 20.

Caspase-3: A primary target for natural and synthetic compounds for cancer therapy

Poonam Yadav  1 , Ramakant Yadav  2 , Shweta Jain  3 , Ankur Vaidya  4
Affiliations
Review

Caspase-3: A primary target for natural and synthetic compounds for cancer therapy

Poonam Yadav et al. Chem Biol Drug Des. 2021 Jul.

Abstract

Caspases, a group of protease enzymes (cysteine proteases), exist as inactive zymogens in the cells and execute apoptosis (programmed cell death). Caspase-3, an executioner caspase, plays an imperative role in apoptosis and becomes a primary target for cancer treatment. A number of analogues of quinazoline, quinazolinone, indoloquinazolines, quinone, naphthoquinones, pyrroloiminoquinones, styrylquinolines, tetheredtetrahydroquinoline, fluoroquinolone, thiosemicarbazones, benzotriazole, pyrimidines, chalcone, and carbazoles have been reported till date, representing caspase-3 mediated apoptosis for cancer therapy. Simultaneously, plant isolates, including lysicamine, podophyllotoxin, and majoranolide, have also been claimed for caspase-3-mediated apoptosis-induced cytotoxicity. Procaspase-activating compound-1 (PAC-1) is the first FDA approved orphan drug, and its synthetic derivative WF-208 also showed fascinating caspase-3 mediated anticancer activity. Till date, a large number of compounds have been reported and patented for their caspase-3-mediated cytotoxicity and now scientist is also focusing to introduce new compounds in market to encompass anticancer activity.

Keywords: PAC-1; apoptosis; cancer; caspase-3; plant isolates.

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References

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