Researchers have made significant progress in identifying new potential targets for cancer treatment and gaining fresh insights into existing drug targets for cancer, opening up new possibilities for combating this disease.
The study conducted by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and several collaborating institutions utilized a comprehensive approach that involved analyzing proteomics, genomics, and epigenomics data from 10 different types of cancer. By integrating this data, the team identified potential protein targets and small protein or peptide targets within cancer tissues. Many of these targets were experimentally validated and deemed promising candidates for future therapeutic strategies. The findings of the study were published in Cell.
Dr. Bing Zhang, one of the co-corresponding authors and a professor at Baylor, emphasized the importance of targeted therapies in treating cancer. He mentioned that while targeted therapies have shown promise in achieving better clinical outcomes compared to traditional treatments like radiotherapy and chemotherapy, there are currently fewer than 200 proteins targeted by FDA-approved cancer drugs. This study significantly expanded the list of potential therapeutic targets by analyzing data from over 1,000 tissue samples across various cancer types.
The researchers utilized computational tools to integrate proteogenomic data obtained from the Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium (CPTAC), which included information on DNA, RNA, and proteins from treatment-naïve primary tumors. By combining this dataset with other public datasets, the team aimed to identify similarities and differences in gene and protein alterations among different tumor types to pinpoint potential targets for cancer therapy.
Dr. Zhang highlighted the team’s goal of understanding known drug targets better and discovering new targets that could lead to the development of novel cancer treatments. By systematically identifying proteins and genes crucial for cancer growth and development, the researchers uncovered potential targets such as overexpressed proteins in cancer tissues, loss of tumor suppressor genes, and tumor antigens like neoantigens.
One exciting aspect of the study was the identification of opportunities to repurpose existing drugs for cancer treatment. For instance, the researchers found that an antifungal drug could inhibit the growth of various cancer types, suggesting its potential as an anti-cancer agent. Additionally, the team identified potential protein targets, including kinases and cell surface proteins, that currently do not have associated drugs, presenting opportunities for future drug development.
Moreover, the study led to the identification of tumor-associated proteins shared across different cancer types, which were experimentally validated for their importance in cancer growth. These proteins represent potential therapeutic targets that warrant further investigation.
Dr. Zhang expressed enthusiasm about the comprehensive resource of protein targets created through the study, which expands the scope of potential therapeutic options for cancer. The findings have been made publicly available to support drug repurposing and the development of novel cancer therapies at https://targets.linkedomics.org. This resource is expected to pave the way for the advancement of cancer treatment strategies.
