Small Molecules Targeting HSF1 Pathway: Chemical Strategies and Therapeutic Potential

Heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) coordinates cellular stress responses and contributes to oncogenic transcriptional programs, positioning it as a compelling target for therapeutic intervention. Despite its established role in cancer and other pathologies, HSF1 remains an undruggable target due to the absence of canonical binding pockets and its intrinsically disordered full-length structure. Recent advances in medicinal chemistry have yielded diverse small-molecule modulators that effectively regulate HSF1 activity, employing innovative chemical strategies to overcome its undruggable nature. These developments have broadened the chemical space for HSF1 modulation, defining a spectrum of approaches ranging from direct engagement of its functional domains to indirect regulation of upstream networks. Given the lack of medicinal chemistry-focused reviews on HSF1, this perspective offers timely insights to guide inhibitor design and explore therapeutic opportunities across oncology, neurodegeneration, and metabolic diseases.