Targeting the Ubiquitin-Proteasome System for Cancer Therapeutics by Small-Molecule Inhibitors

Simple Summary The ubiquitin-proteasome system regulates multiple facets of protein homeostasis to modulate signal transduction in numerous biological processes. Not surprisingly, dysregulation of this delicately balanced system is frequently observed in cancer progression. In the past two decades, researchers in both academia and industry have made significant progress in developing small-molecule inhibitors targeting various components in the ubiquitin-proteasome system for cancer therapy. Here, we aim to provide a comprehensive summary of these efforts. Additionally, we overview the advancements of targeted protein degradation, a recently emerging drug discovery concept in cancer therapy. The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is a critical regulator of cellular protein levels and activity. It is, therefore, not surprising that its dysregulation is implicated in numerous human diseases, including many types of cancer. Moreover, since cancer cells exhibit increased rates of protein turnover, their heightened dependence on the UPS makes it an attractive target for inhibition via targeted therapeutics. Indeed, the clinical application of proteasome inhibitors in treatment of multiple myeloma has been very successful, stimulating the development of small-molecule inhibitors targeting other UPS components. On the other hand, while the discovery of potent and selective chemical compounds can be both challenging and time consuming, the area of targeted protein degradation through utilization of the UPS machinery has seen promising developments in recent years. The repertoire of proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs), which employ E3 ligases for the degradation of cancer-related proteins via the proteasome, continues to grow. In this review, we will provide a thorough overview of small-molecule UPS inhibitors and highlight advancements in the development of targeted protein degradation strategies for cancer therapeutics.