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Identifying drug targets in cancer metastasis
Identifying drug targets in cancer metastasis.
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[{"type":"text","content":"\n \n \n \n RNS Number : 8579G\n Angle PLC\n 01 April 2022\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n For immediate release\n \n \n \n \n 01 April 2022\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n ANGLE plc (\"the Company\")\n \n \n \n \n \n PARSORTIX SYSTEM DEMONSTRATES ABILITY TO ISOLATE CTCs FOR DOWNSTREAM MOLECULAR ANALYSIS, IDENTIFYING KEY DRUG TARGETS INVOLVED IN CANCER METASTASIS\n \n \n \n \n \n World-class research identifies specific genetic steps in the metastatic process, paving the way to test targeted treatment approaches\n \n \n \n \n \n Metastatic process driven by invasion of CTCs and CTC clusters found to be dependent on druggable gene targets\n \n \n \n \n \n ANGLE plc (AIM:AGL OTCQX:ANPCY), a world-leading liquid biopsy company, \n is pleased to announce that the Molecular Oncology Laboratory at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Switzerland, has published results of work undertaken in preclinical models of metastatic breast cancer (MBC), where they have identified specific genes involved in various steps of the metastatic process. This included actionable targets found to be required for the formation of circulating tumour cells (CTCs) and their seeding at secondary metastatic tumour site. In a preclinical model, targeted therapy was found to reduce metastasis and has the potential to improve patient outcomes.\n \n \n \n \n \n Researchers used ANGLE's Parsortix® system to isolate single CTCs and CTC clusters from preclinical MBC models engineered with CRISPR technology, and the CTCs were analysed using DNA sequencing. The team identified metastasis-relevant genes, where loss-of-function of the genes resulted in decreased CTC cluster generation and reduced metastatic burden. This has clinical relevance as it has been estimated that CTC clusters have 23-50-fold increased metastatic potential compared to single CTCs and confer a higher risk of death in MBC patients. The authors also identified actionable gene targets, such as PLK1, that are required for the formation of both single CTCs and CTC clusters. Treatment with approved targeted therapy reduced CTC shedding and metastasis formation in the preclinical model. This is particularly relevant to patient outcomes given that ~90% of cancer deaths are a result of metastasis.\n \n \n \n \n \n This study adds to the growing body...