ACBI3 is an experimental
anticancer An anticarcinogen (also known as a carcinopreventive agent) is a substance that counteracts the effects of a carcinogen or inhibits the development of cancer. Anticarcinogens are different from anticarcinoma agents (also known as anticancer or ant ...
drug which is one of the first examples of a proteolysis targeting chimera or PROTAC. It is a bifunctional molecule with two halves joined by a linker; one half binds to a protein found in various forms of cancer cell called
Kirsten rat sarcoma virus or KRAS, while the other half binds
E3 ligase
A ubiquitin ligase (also called an E3 ubiquitin ligase) is a protein that recruits an E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme that has been loaded with ubiquitin, recognizes a protein substrate, and assists or directly catalyzes the transfer of ubiquitin ...
which triggers the cell's natural protein degradation mechanisms so that the entire complex is broken down. In early stage testing, it was able to target 13 of the 17 most common mutated forms of KRAS found in cancer cells, allowing selective targeting of a wide range of cancer types. While this particular molecule is still at an early developmental stage and may be unlikely to be approved as a medicine itself, it is an important proof of concept which is likely to lead to the development of a range of related PROTAC type anticancer drugs.
See also
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Adagrasib
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K-Ras(G12C) inhibitor 6
K-Ras(G12C) inhibitor 6 is an irreversible inhibitor of oncogenic K-Ras(G12C), subverting the native nucleotide preference to favour GDP over GTP. Its family of inhibitors allosterically control GTP affinity and effector interactions by fittin ...
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MRTX1133
MRTX1133 is an investigational drug that targets the G12D mutation in KRAS dependent cancers. MRTX1133 was in a phase 1/2 clinical trial for the treatment of solid tumors, however the study was terminated in Q1 2025. MRTX1133 is considered to be ...
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Olomorasib
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RMC-9805
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Sotorasib
Sotorasib, sold under the brand names Lumakras and Lumykras, is an anti-cancer medication used to treat non-small-cell lung cancer. It targets a specific mutation, G12C, in the protein K-Ras encoded by gene KRAS which is responsible for vario ...
References
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Experimental cancer drugs
Diazepanes
Oxadiazoles
Benzothiophenes
Pyrimidines
Triazoles
Pyrrolidines
Thiazoles
Carboxamides
Nitriles
Amines
Diols