Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 28, 2025

Testing Targeted Therapies in Cancer using Structural DNA Alteration Analysis and Patient-Derived Xenografts
10:27

Testing Targeted Therapies in Cancer using Structural DNA Alteration Analysis and Patient-Derived Xenografts

Published on: July 25, 2020

7.2K

Cancer testis antigens: Emerging therapeutic targets leveraging genomic instability in cancer

Adviti Naik1, Boucif Lattab1, Hanan Qasem1,2

  • 1Cancer Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar.

Molecular Therapy. Oncology
|April 10, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Cancer testis antigens (CTAs) are promising cancer targets due to their tumor-specific expression and immunogenicity. Exploiting CTAs

Area of Science:

  • Oncology and Immunology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Cancer therapy advances include targeted and immune-based treatments alongside surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy.
  • Optimizing the benefit-risk balance in cancer treatment remains challenging, necessitating high tumor specificity and minimal side effects.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore cancer testis antigens (CTAs) as a therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment.
  • To investigate the role of CTAs in maintaining genomic integrity within cancer cells.
  • To discuss the exploitation of CTA mechanisms for targeted tumor eradication.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current clinical trials targeting CTAs.
  • Analysis of pre-clinical data on CTA-based therapies.
  • Discussion of CTA roles in genomic integrity regulation.

Main Results:

  • CTAs exhibit tumor-specific expression patterns and natural immunogenicity.
  • CTAs play crucial roles in biological processes essential for tumor cell survival.
  • CTA targeting strategies show promise in preclinical studies.

Conclusions:

  • CTAs offer novel therapeutic opportunities for cancer intervention.
  • Exploiting CTA functions in genomic instability can lead to targeted tumor eradication.
  • Further development of CTA-based strategies is warranted, addressing current challenges.
Keywords:
DNA repairMT: Regular Issuecancer testis antigengenomic integritytherapeutic interventiontumor cellular fitness

More Related Videos

Genome-Wide CRISPR Screen for Unveiling Radiosensitive and Radioresistant Genes08:32

Genome-Wide CRISPR Screen for Unveiling Radiosensitive and Radioresistant Genes

Published on: May 23, 2025

145
Implementation of In Vitro Drug Resistance Assays: Maximizing the Potential for Uncovering Clinically Relevant Resistance Mechanisms08:46

Implementation of In Vitro Drug Resistance Assays: Maximizing the Potential for Uncovering Clinically Relevant Resistance Mechanisms

Published on: December 9, 2015

10.6K

Related Concept Videos

Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
7.6K
Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes01:05

Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes

Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
7.4K
Tumor Immunotherapy01:27

Tumor Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.
522
Cancer Vaccines01:30

Cancer Vaccines

Cancer treatment vaccines are a rapidly evolving field that offers a promising approach to immunotherapy. Unlike traditional vaccines that prevent diseases, cancer treatment vaccines are designed to treat existing cancers by stimulating the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells.
Cancer vaccines come in two categories: preventive (prophylactic) and treatment (active). Preventive vaccines, such as the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, protect against viruses that cause certain...
360
Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity01:25

Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity

Mutagenicity and carcinogenicity refer to the ability of drugs to cause genetic defects and induce cancer, respectively. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies agents into four groups based on their carcinogenic potential. Group 1 agents are known human carcinogens; group 2A agents are probably carcinogenic to humans; group 3 agents lack data to support their role in carcinogenesis; and group 4 includes agents for which data support that they are not likely to be...
1.3K
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine02:50

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
4.9K