Traditional cancer treatment includes surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy
that are clinically beneficial, but are associated with drawbacks such as drug resistance and side
effects. In quest for better treatment, many new molecular targets have been introduced in the last few
decades. Finding new molecular mechanisms encourages researchers to discover new anticancer agents.
Exploring the mechanism of action also facilitates anticipation of potential resistance mechanisms and
optimization of rational combination therapies. The write up describes the leading molecular mechanisms
for cancer therapy, including mTOR, tyrosine Wee1 kinase (WEE1), Janus kinases, PI3K/mTOR
signaling pathway, serine/threonine protein kinase AKT, checkpoint kinase 1 (Chk1), maternal embryonic
leucine-zipper kinase (MELK), DNA methyltransferase I (DNMT1), poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase
(PARP)-1/-2, sphingosine kinase-2 (SK2), pan-FGFR, inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP), murine double minute
2 (MDM2), Bcl-2 family protein and reactive oxygen species 1 (ROS1). Additionally, the manuscript
reviews the anticancer drugs currently under clinical trials.
Inhibition of DNA methyltransferase aberrations reinstates antioxidant aging suppressors and ameliorates renal aging
