S6 Kinase Inhibitors

S6 kinase inhibitors are a class of compounds that target and inhibit S6 kinases, which are serine/threonine kinases involved in regulating protein synthesis and cellular growth. S6 kinases, particularly S6K1 and S6K2, are downstream effectors of the mTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin) signaling pathway. They phosphorylate ribosomal protein S6 and other substrates involved in protein translation and cell proliferation. Inhibiting S6 kinases can disrupt these processes, potentially slowing down cell growth and proliferation, particularly in cancer cells where aberrant mTOR signaling is often observed. S6 kinase inhibitors are being explored as therapeutic agents in cancer treatment, aiming to block tumor cell proliferation and enhance the effectiveness of other anti-cancer therapies.