Cancer cells are able inactivate the function of tumour suppressor proteins (TSPs) by overexpressing the nuclear export protein, XPO1, which results in TSP mislocalisation to the cytopasm. Pharmacological inhibition of XPO1 in cancer cells promotes nuclear retention of TSP cargo proteins such as p53, Foxo, and BRCA1, and this activity restores TSP function and leads to cycle arrest and enhanced cancer cell apoptosis. This approach is being expoited as a novel anti-cancer mechanism [1-2].

1. Mendonca J, Sharma A, Kim HS, Hammers H, Meeker A, De Marzo A, Carducci M, Kauffman M, Shacham S, Kachhap S. (2014) Selective inhibitors of nuclear export (SINE) as novel therapeutics for prostate cancer. Oncotarget, 5 (15): 6102-12. [PMID:25026284]

2. Senapedis WT, Baloglu E, Landesman Y. (2014) Clinical translation of nuclear export inhibitors in cancer. Semin Cancer Biol, 27: 74-86. [PMID:24755012]