PROTAC-based therapeutics for targeting HPV oncoproteins in head and neck cancers
Nobendu Mukerjee, Dattatreya Mukherjee
Abstract
The increasing incidence of Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-related head and neck cancers, particularly oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas, highlights the need for advanced therapeutic options beyond the traditional modalities of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, which often lead to significant morbidity and lack specificity in targeting the molecular pathogenesis of the disease. Proteolysis Targeting Chimeras (PROTACs) present a novel therapeutic strategy, leveraging the ubiquitin-proteasome system to specifically degrade the oncogenic HPV proteins E6 and E7. This targeted approach not only potentially reduces the side effects associated with conventional treatments but also directly interrupts the cancer-promoting activities of these proteins, offering a promising avenue for more effective and less invasive treatment of HPV-associated malignancies. • A novel therapeutic strategy using PROTACs to target and degrade these oncogenic proteins. • Treatment modalities are focused to head neck cancer. • This targeted approach reduces the side effects associated with conventional treatments. • Targeted Oncogenic Proteins are E6 and E7.