CDC25 inhibitors as anticancer agents are moving forward.

The identification of a CDC25 inhibitor to arrest the cell cycle closely followed the discovery of CDC25 by Russell and Nurse in 1986. Recent advances at the preclinical and clinical stages reinforce the rationale to consider CDC25 as a relevant target for a cancer treatment. Here, in order to exemplify recent drug discovery efforts, we present our own experience with various chemical series of CDC25 inhibitors. We discuss how we have progressed and how we are considering the next steps to define the clinical entry points and hopefully complete this target validation to generate a new class of therapeutic agents.