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Targeting Upstream Janus Kinases

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STAT Inhibitors in Cancer

Part of the book series: Cancer Drug Discovery and Development ((CDD&D))

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Abstract

Janus kinases (JAKs) are the tyrosine kinases that are the principal activators of STAT proteins – particularly downstream of cytokine receptors – during normal development and homeostasis. The JAKs also make a major contribution to the hyperactivation of STATs observed in various malignancies, including through mutation of the JAKs themselves in several neoplastic conditions. These properties have made JAKs attractive targets for the development of small molecule inhibitors based on similar approaches used for other tyrosine kinases. This chapter details the lead JAK inhibitors, which show variable specificity, including multi-kinase inhibitors that have demonstrated excellent clinical efficacy.

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Acknowledgments

The authors recognize the support of a Faculty of Health Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (PR) from Deakin University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia

    Parisa Rasighaemi & Alister C. Ward

  2. Centre for Molecular and Medical Research, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia

    Parisa Rasighaemi & Alister C. Ward

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  1. Parisa Rasighaemi
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  2. Alister C. Ward
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Correspondence to Parisa Rasighaemi .

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  1. School of Medicine, Deakin University, Warun Ponds, Victoria, Australia

    Alister C. Ward

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Rasighaemi, P., Ward, A.C. (2016). Targeting Upstream Janus Kinases. In: Ward, A. (eds) STAT Inhibitors in Cancer. Cancer Drug Discovery and Development. Humana Press, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-42949-6_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-42949-6_6

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Cham

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