How could targeting actin be a strategy for treating cancer?

Targeting actin in cancer treatment can be strategically important due to its integral role in cellular processes such as cytokinesis, the final step of cell division. Disrupting actin polymerization with specific drugs can effectively prevent cytokinesis, leading to an accumulation of cells that are unable to divide properly. This disruption can result in apoptotic pathways being activated due to the stress of failed cell division, ultimately leading to reduced tumor growth and proliferation.

Actin is essential for the formation of the contractile ring during cytokinesis, which physically separates the two daughter cells. Targeting this process can create an environment where cancerous cells are unable to complete division, thereby limiting their ability to multiply and spread. This method leverages a fundamental aspect of cancer cell biology, namely their rapid division and reliance on the actin cytoskeleton for physical separation during cell division.