Targeting the human kinome for cancer therapy: current perspectives

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Biology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Significant advancements have been made in developing targeted therapies for specific oncogenic kinases.
• Cancer genome sequencing reveals a wider spectrum of kinases involved in cancer progression than previously understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a broad perspective on the current knowledge of the cancer kinome.
• To explore how this knowledge can be expanded and utilized for clinical benefit.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent cancer genome sequencing data.
• Integration of insights from functional genomics and mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics.
• Analysis of intracellular signaling networks and their response to targeted agents.

Main Results:

• Identification of a broader range of kinase oncogenes contributing to cancer.
• Elucidation of the functional roles of specific kinases in various cancers.
• Understanding the dependency of kinase roles on genetic background and their impact on signaling pathways.

Conclusions:

• The cancer kinome is more complex than initially thought, offering new therapeutic targets.
• Expanding our understanding of the cancer kinome is crucial for developing novel and effective cancer treatments.
• Functional genomics and proteomics are vital for deciphering kinase functions and guiding targeted therapy development.