Hyperthermic sensitizers targeting heat-induced signal transductions

Abstract

Hyperthermia has been used as one of the efficacious cancer therapies. To develop more efficient regimens for various malignant tumors, the attention has focused on searching for substances to sensitize cell lethality of tumors by hyperthermia. Inhibitors which interfere with anti-apoptosis and/or cellular proliferation signal transductions are good candidates for enhancers of heat sensitivity of cancer cells. This review summarizes signal transductions for anti-apoptosis and/or cellular proliferation after heating and inhibitors targeting key factors in these signaling transductions. The attractive sensitizers described here might contribute to high curative efficiency in hyperthermic cancer therapy.