Targeting IAP proteins for therapeutic intervention in cancer

Inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) proteins are a family of anti-apoptotic proteins that promote cancer cell survival and inhibit cell death.IAP proteins represent promising targets for therapeutic intervention in human cancers, as they are expressed at high levels in various malignancies and have been linked to tumour progression, treatment failure and poor prognosis.Several therapeutic strategies have been designed in recent years to target IAP proteins, including second mitochondria-derived activator of caspase (SMAC)-mimicking IAP antagonists.Preclinical studies indicate that the therapeutic potential of IAP antagonists might best be exploited in combination protocols, including conventional chemotherapeutics, death receptor agonists, signal transduction modulators or radiation therapy.IAP antagonists have already entered the clinical stage and are currently being evaluated in early-stage clinical trials.