Introduction: 14-3-3ζ acts as a central hub in signaling networks, which promotes cell proliferation, adhesion and survival and inhibits apoptosis in multiple cancers. Development of inhibitors or agents that interfere with 14-3-3ζ-dependent signaling networks are likely to serve as novel molecular agents for targeted cancer therapy.
Areas covered: The role of 14-3-3ζ in cancer and its potential as a novel molecular target for therapy. The involvement of 14-3-3ζ in chemoresistance in multiple cancers provides a rationale for developing novel molecular therapies targeting this protein for more effective cancer management. The keywords used to conduct the literature search for this paper were '14-3-3/14-3-3zeta and cancer', '14-3-3 structure', '14-3-3 inhibitors', '14-3-3 cancer prognosis', '14-3-3 and cancer therapy', 'role/ functions of 14-3-3'.
Expert opinion: 14-3-3ζ is a central cellular hub protein regulating multiple signaling pathways involved in cancer development, progression and therapeutic resistance. Thus, 14-3-3ζ may serve as a novel molecular target for cancer therapy. New approaches including synthetic and/or natural inhibitors that interfere with 14-3-3ζ-client interactions need to be developed for effective cancer therapy.