What is a common treatment approach for cancers derived from oncogenes?

Cancers derived from oncogenes often involve mutations or overexpression of genes that drive uncontrolled cell proliferation and survival. One effective treatment approach is the targeted proteasomal degradation of the proteins produced by these oncogenes. This method specifically focuses on the degradation of oncoproteins that contribute to the cancerous behavior of cells, effectively reducing the levels of these detrimental proteins and inhibiting tumor growth.

By using drugs that promote the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, clinicians aim to selectively target and degrade these oncogenic proteins, thereby influencing the cancer signaling pathways that these proteins activate. This strategy can lead to decreased cell survival and proliferation, making it a targeted, rather than broad-spectrum, therapeutic approach, which is particularly advantageous when considering the hyper-specific nature of the oncogene in question.

In contrast, other treatment options, such as general chemotherapy with non-targeted agents or drugs that induce apoptosis across all cell types, may not have the same selective efficacy and can lead to systemic side effects due to the lack of specificity. Similarly, radiation therapy targeting metastases does not specifically address the underlying oncogenic drivers of the cancer but rather focuses on destroying rapidly dividing cells in specific locations. Therefore, the targeted degradation of oncogene products provides a more precise