Use of transcription factors as agents and targets for drug development.

Cells respond to external signals by either activating or inhibiting key regulatory proteins of gene expression called transcription factors (TFs). Abnormal expression of these factors plays a critical role in many human cancers. Recently, many TFs have been identified and their structure-function relationship has been characterized. Such new information has been useful in designing new chemotherapeutic drugs targeting these regulatory proteins. This review discusses the use of dominant-negative (DN) mutants of TFs as inhibitors of cell growth, as well as possible strategies for screening potential inhibitors of TF activity.