Kaixiang Cao, PhD, a member of Case CCC's Cancer Genomics & Epigenomics program, is challenging the current paradigms for using the LSD1 (lysine-specific histone demethylase 1A) protein to slow cancer growth. He and his team posit that the entire LSD1 protein can be completely degraded rather than the current practice of slowing down or diverting the chemical reaction that leads to its overexpression.
Cao says, "The research we've done indicates the current practice of inhibiting overexpression might be effective 15% of the time, but our approach is effective closer to 80% of the time. If we can develop a degrader of LSD1, the patient goes through less therapy, even if their cancer isn't cured."
The team's research was published in the Aug. 22, 2023, edition of Nature Communications.