Investigation into Small Molecule Inhibitors of Calcium Binding Protein to Suppress Tumor Growth and Metastasis

Abstract

Overexpression of S100P calcium binding protein is associated with many forms of cancer. The interactions S100P has with many other proteins involved in proliferation, intracellular signaling, and migration make it an attractive target for medicinal chemists investigating novel methods of inhibiting an enzyme that is largely responsible for cancerous growths. Recent studies have found promising lead compounds – small molecule inhibitors of S100P, specifically in nasopharyngeal and pancreatic cancer cell lines. These not only inhibit the action of S100P, but are often times shown to downregulate many other protein complexes implicated in cancer. Promise has been shown in the construction of medicinal compounds that are able to effectively target and inhibit S100P, thus slowing growth and metastasis of tumors. These studies however were conducted in vitro, so current research must be aimed further characterizing the properties of these compounds within living systems, as well as ensuring that they are selectively toxic toward cancerous cells, leaving the host largely unharmed.