Targeting the oncogene and kinome chaperone CDC37

Nat Rev Cancer. 2008 Jul;8(7):491-5. doi: 10.1038/nrc2420. Epub 2008 May 30.

Abstract

CDC37 is a molecular chaperone that physically stabilizes the catalytic domains found in protein kinases and is therefore a wide-spectrum regulator of protein phosphorylation. It is also an overexpressed oncoprotein that mediates carcinogenesis by stabilizing the compromised structures of mutant and/or overexpressed oncogenic kinases. Recent work shows that such dependency of malignant cells on increased CDC37 expression is a vulnerability that can be targeted in cancer by agents that deplete or inhibit CDC37. CDC37 is thus a candidate for broad-spectrum molecular cancer therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / drug effects*
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
  • Chaperonins / drug effects*
  • Chaperonins / genetics
  • Humans
  • Oncogenes*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • CDC37 protein, human
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Chaperonins