Novel proteasome inhibitor delanzomib sensitizes cervical cancer cells to doxorubicin-induced apoptosis via stabilizing tumor suppressor proteins in the p53 pathway.

Cervical cancer, the third most commonly occurring cancer, is the second leading cause of cancer related mortality among women. Aberrant ubiquitination and proteasome activity, both human papillomavirus and tumor derived, have been shown to contribute to tumor angiogenesis, proliferation, and invasion in many cancers, including cervical cancer. Thus, small molecule proteasome inhibitors are a potential and strategic treatment option for cervical cancer.