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Updated: Sep 24, 2025
Polymalic Acid-based Nano Biopolymers for Targeting of Multiple Tumor Markers: An Opportunity for Personalized Medicine?
Published on: June 13, 2014
Evaluation of anti-EGFR-iRGD recombinant protein with GOLD nanoparticles: synergistic effect on antitumor efficiency
Aman Chandra Kaushik1, Yan-Jing Wang1, Xiangeng Wang1
1The State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai 200240 China amanbioinfo@sjtu.edu.cn dqwei@sjtu.edu.cn.
Abstract:
The epidermal growth factor receptor, also known as EGFR, is a tyrosine kinase receptor commonly found in epithelial tumors. As part of the first target for cancer treatment, EGFR has been the subject of intense research for more than 20 years; as a result, there are a number of anti-EGFR agents currently available. More recently, with our basic understanding of mechanisms related to receptor activation and function, both the secondary and primary forms of EGFR somatic mutations have led to the discovery of new anti-EGFR agents aimed at providing new insights into the clinical targeting of this receptor and possibly acting as an ideal model for developing strategies to target other types of receptors. In this study, we use genomic pattern to prove that EGFR is most frequently altered in GBM, glioma and astrocytoma; and analysed the prognostic potentiality of EGFR in glioma, which is a major type of brain tumor. Further we proposed a new screening technique for EGFR inhibitors by employing an in silico optimized deep neural network approach. This method was applied to screen a nanoparticle (NP) library, and it was concluded that gold NPs (AuNPs) induced significant inhibition of EGFR compared with other selected NPs. These findings were further analyzed by molecular docking, systems biology, time course simulations and synthetic biology (biological circuits), revealing that anti-EGFR-iRGD and AuNP showed potential inhibition against tumors caused by EGFR.
Insights
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations are common in brain tumors like GBM. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) show potential for inhibiting EGFR, offering new therapeutic strategies for these cancers.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Biotechnology
- Bioinformatics
Background:
- Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a key target in cancer therapy, particularly in epithelial tumors.
- Over 20 years of research have yielded numerous anti-EGFR agents, yet new strategies are needed.
- Somatic mutations in EGFR are increasingly understood, driving the development of novel targeted therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of EGFR alterations in brain tumors using genomic patterns.
- To analyze the prognostic significance of EGFR in glioma.
- To develop and apply a novel in silico screening method for identifying EGFR inhibitors.
Main Methods:
- Genomic pattern analysis to identify EGFR alterations in GBM, glioma, and astrocytoma.
- In silico screening using a deep neural network to identify EGFR inhibitors from a nanoparticle library.
- Molecular docking, systems biology, time course simulations, and synthetic biology for validation.
Main Results:
- EGFR is frequently altered in Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM), glioma, and astrocytoma.
- Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) demonstrated significant EGFR inhibition compared to other nanoparticles.
- Anti-EGFR-iRGD and AuNPs showed potential for inhibiting EGFR-driven tumors.
Conclusions:
- EGFR plays a crucial role in specific brain tumors, including glioma.
- In silico deep neural network screening is effective for identifying potential EGFR inhibitors.
- Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) represent a promising therapeutic approach for EGFR-driven cancers.
