Role of Protein Post-Translational Modifications in Cancer: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Opportunities

Dear Colleagues,

Post-translational modifications (PTMs) represent a major biochemical mechanism for increasing the diversity of the proteome, allowing proteins to undergo functional changes that can be dynamically adjusted in response to both intracellular and extracellular signals. In cancer, PTMs such as phosphorylation, ubiquitination, acetylation, glycosylation, and methylation are not merely secondary modifications; rather, they influence virtually every hallmark of cancer. These and other modifications regulate key cellular functions such as cell cycle progression, apoptosis, DNA repair, immune responses, and metabolism. However, cancer cells frequently hijack PTMs, exploiting these mechanisms to promote uncontrolled growth, evade apoptosis, drive metastasis, and resist treatment.

The targeting of these aberrant PTM pathways presents a vast array of potential avenues for therapeutic intervention. One of the most well-known examples is the aberrant tyrosine kinase activity of the BCR-ABL fusion protein in chronic myeloid leukemia. Imatinib, a pioneering therapeutic agent that targets this hyperactive kinase and was specifically developed for this purpose, exemplifies how correcting PTM-driven dysregulation can result in effective cancer treatment, opening the door to a wide range of cancer treatments.

This Special Issue will collect the latest research on the pivotal roles of PTMs in the diverse stages and forms of cancer, with particular interest in mechanistic studies aimed at revealing how specific PTMs contribute to tumor initiation, progression, and metastasis. Furthermore, comprehensive reviews of current treatments targeting PTMs, which should examine the efficacy of existing therapies and highlight new therapeutic avenues, will be welcomed.

By collecting a broad spectrum of research, the aim is to provide a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanism controlled by PTMs in tumors and of how manipulating PTMs can revolutionize cancer treatment and improve patient outcomes.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Kinases and Phosphatases.

Dr. Mauro Salvi
Prof. Dr. Wei-Chien Huang
Dr. Josefa León
Guest Editors

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