Advance in antitumor agents targeting glutathione-S-transferase

Glutathione-S-transferases (GSTs; EC 2.5.1.18), a family of phase II detoxification enzymes, catalyze the conjugation of glutathione with broad substrates including chemotherapeutic agents, and are involved in cell protection against apoptotic signals by inhibiting the stress-signaling cascade mediated by ASKI (Apoptosis signal-regulating kinase)-JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase). As GSTs are overexpressed in some malignant tumors, GSTs is a promising therapeutic target. This article reviews the progress in the development of GSTs inhibitors and GSTs activated prodrugs.