A Novel Drug for Liver Cancer

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for more than 90% of all liver cancers. Due to its restricted treatment options and poor diagnosis, there may be presently an unmet need for alternative, greater effective treatments. In a new study, researchers have developed a unique peptide drug known as FFW that might probably reduce tumor growth and gradual development of cancer.

Previous research has examined SALL4, a protein related to tumor growth, as a prognosis marker and drug target for HCC, in addition to other cancers. However, it's been previously categorized as an “undruggable target,” according to the researchers.

In prior studies, they observed that the SALL4 protein works with another protein, NuRD, to make an association typically imperative for the enhancement of cancers counting HCC. Drug molecules that act on protein interactions which incorporate SALL4-NuRD frequently require the target proteins to have a small “pocket” in their 3-d structure in which the drug molecule can reside and take effect.

Rather than trying to find ‘pockets’ on SALL4, the research group designed a bio-molecule to block the interaction between SALL4 and NuRD. In lab experiments, blocking the interaction has brought about tumor cell death and decreased movement of tumor cells.

This bio-molecule, peptide FWW, is a small chain of amino acids which can interfere with these interactions and efficiently block the large protein-protein interaction surface, without needing a “pocket” to take effect. Moreover, the researchers observed that FWW should reduce the growth of Sorafenib-resistant HCC, while utilized in combination with Sorafenib. 

Focusing on the SALL4-NuRD interaction need to have vital implications for the treatment of HCC, this can translate to a broader range of cancers with accelerated SALL4. In the latest work, the research team has additionally demonstrated a powerful approach to appropriately target oncogenes formerly considered undruggable.

“Moving forward, researchers hope to analyze how the targeting of these protein interactions may pan out in different cancer types.”