Exploration of Novel Therapeutic Targets for Breast Carcinoma and Molecular Docking Studies of Anticancer Compound Libraries with Cyclin-dependent Kinase 4/6 (CDK4/6): A Comprehensive Study of Signalling Pathways for Drug Repurposing.

Abstract

Aims: This study aims to identify and evaluate promising therapeutic proteins and compounds for breast cancer treatment through a comprehensive database search and molecular docking analysis.

Background: Breast cancer (BC), primarily originating from the terminal ductal-lobular unit of the breast, is the most prevalent form of cancer globally. In 2020, an estimated 2.3 million new cases were reported, resulting in approximately 685,000 deaths. Mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are well-established in hereditary breast cancer. The identification of effective therapeutic proteins for BC remains a complex and evolving area of research.

Objective: This study aims to identify and evaluate promising therapeutic proteins and compounds specific to breast cancer through a comprehensive database search and molecular docking analysis.

Methods: A rigorous search was conducted within the National Cancer Institute (NCI), NCI Metathesaurus, SIGnaling Network Open Resource (SIGNOR), Human Protein Atlas (HPA), and the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) to shortlist proteins linked to BC (CUI C0678222). Recent studies were reviewed to understand the administration of CDK4/6 inhibitors (palbociclib, ribociclib, abemaciclib) combined with endocrine therapy for HR-positive and HER2-negative breast cancer. Anticancer compound libraries available at ZINC and PubChem were analyzed. Compounds were evaluated based on their binding energies with CDK4 protein, a rationally selected druggable target.

Results: Key proteins linked to breast cancer were identified through database searches. Proliferation, apoptosis, and G1/S transition pathways were frequently found dysregulated in breast cancer. ZINC13152284 exhibited the strongest binding energy at -10.9 Kcal/mol, followed by ZINC05492794 with a binding energy of -10.4 Kcal/mol. Preexisting drugs showed lower binding energies with the CDK4 protein.

Conclusion: The study highlights the importance of drug repurposing as a strategy for the safe and effective treatment of breast cancer. Synthetic inhibitors often cause severe side effects, emphasizing the need for novel targets and compounds with better therapeutic profiles. Molecular docking identified promising compounds from the ZINC database, suggesting potential new avenues for breast cancer therapy.