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Proteolytic signaling in cancer
Murilo Salardani1, Uilla Barcick1, André Zelanis1
1Functional Proteomics Laboratory, Institute of Science and Technology, Federal University of São Paulo, São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil.
Introduction:
Cancer is a disease of (altered) biological pathways, often driven by somatic mutations and with several implications. Therefore, the identification of potential markers of disease is challenging. Given the large amount of biological data generated with omics approaches, oncology has experienced significant contributions. Proteomics mapping of protein fragments, derived from proteolytic processing events during oncogenesis, may shed light on (i) the role of active proteases and (ii) the functional implications of processed substrates in biological signaling circuits. Both outcomes have the potential for predicting diagnosis/prognosis in diseases like cancer. Therefore, understanding proteolytic processing events and their downstream implications may contribute to advances in the understanding of tumor biology and targeted therapies in precision medicine.
Areas Covered:
Proteolytic events associated with some hallmarks of cancer (cell migration and proliferation, angiogenesis, metastasis, as well as extracellular matrix degradation) will be discussed. Moreover, biomarker discovery and the use of proteomics approaches to uncover proteolytic signaling events will also be covered.
Expert Opinion:
Proteolytic processing is an irreversible protein post-translational modification and the deconvolution of biological data resulting from the study of proteolytic signaling events may be used in both patient diagnosis/prognosis and targeted therapies in cancer.
Insights
Identifying protein fragments from proteolytic processing in cancer can reveal protease roles and substrate functions. This aids in discovering biomarkers for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and targeted therapies.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Proteomics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Cancer is a complex disease driven by altered biological pathways and somatic mutations.
- Omics approaches, particularly proteomics, are increasingly contributing to cancer research.
- Proteolytic processing generates protein fragments that offer insights into oncogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the role of proteolytic events in cancer hallmarks like migration, proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis.
- To discuss biomarker discovery through proteomics for identifying proteolytic signaling events.
- To understand the implications of protein fragment analysis for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and targeted therapies.
Main Methods:
- Proteomics mapping of protein fragments.
- Analysis of proteolytic processing events during oncogenesis.
- Integration of omics data for deconvolution of proteolytic signaling.
Main Results:
- Proteolytic processing provides insights into active protease roles and functional implications of processed substrates.
- These findings can potentially predict diagnosis and prognosis in cancer patients.
- Understanding proteolytic events contributes to advancements in tumor biology and precision medicine.
Conclusions:
- Proteolytic processing is a critical irreversible protein modification in cancer.
- Studying proteolytic signaling events using proteomics can lead to novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
- This approach supports the development of targeted therapies in precision medicine.
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