Neddylation Pathway as a Novel Anti-cancer Target: Mechanistic Investigation and Therapeutic Implication

Anticancer Agents Med Chem. 2015;15(9):1127-33. doi: 10.2174/1871520615666150305111257.

Abstract

Protein neddylation, a newly characterized posttranslational modification that adds the ubiquitin-like molecule NEDD8 to substrates, modulates important biological processes, whereas dysfunction of neddylation may cause several serious diseases, such as cancer. Inhibition of neddylation pathway has emerged as a promising anticancer strategy, as evidenced by development of the NEDD8-activating enzyme (NAE) inhibitor MLN4924. Due to its potent anti-cancer efficacy and well-tolerated toxicity, MLN4924 has been evaluated in multiple Phase I clinical trials for solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. Recently, accumulating evidences indicate that neddylation pathway also plays a pivotal role in the regulation of multiple processes of tumor microenvironment (TME), such as tumor angiogenesis and the function of immune cells. In this review, we briefly summarize the latest progresses in this field and highlight neddylation pathway as an attractive therapeutic target against human cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cyclopentanes / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Macrophages / drug effects
  • NEDD8 Protein
  • Neoplasms / blood supply
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / prevention & control
  • Pyrimidines / pharmacology*
  • Ubiquitins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Ubiquitins / metabolism

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Cyclopentanes
  • NEDD8 Protein
  • NEDD8 protein, human
  • Pyrimidines
  • Ubiquitins
  • pevonedistat