Trailing TRAIL Resistance for Targeted Cancer Therapy

Abstract

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a promising anti-cancer agent due to its selective killing of cancer cells, sparing the vital normal cells. Despite its great potential in cancer treatment, its clinical application has been hampered by the cancer resistance. Various strategies have been developed to overcome resistance towards TRAIL-induced apoptosis which include the combinational therapy of TRAIL with epigenetic drugs, chemotherapy drugs and the autophagy inhibitors. To heighten the therapeutic outcome, the personalized medicine based on biomarker screening could serve as a novel strategy in tailoring the combinational therapy of TRAIL and sensitizer for targeted cancer therapy in the near future.