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New and promising target against prostate cancer

Dovetail Genomics has announced details of a new study that shows inhibiting the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex prevents several oncogenes from being expressed and slows prostate cancer growth in cell and animal models.

These findings were made possible, in part, by Hi-C technology developed by Dovetail Genomics, with the company’s proximity ligation HiChIP MNase Kit providing essential information about 3D chromatin architecture, illuminating the effect the PROTAC had on chromatin remodeling.

“This is a revolutionary finding,” said Dr Arul Chinnaiyan, director of the Michigan Center for Translational Pathology and senior author on the paper. “By controlling chromatin structure in prostate cancer cells, we shut down several oncogenic pathways at once. This could offer new hope for patients, particularly those with resistant disease.”

In the study, the research team designed a proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC), a small molecule compound, that degrades SMARCA2 and SMARCA4, essential SWI/SNF components. This degradation had a ripple effect. Inhibiting SWI/SNF kept chromatin closed to cancer-driving transcription factors, which could not reach gene enhancers, muting well-known oncogenes, such as AR (androgen receptor), FOXA1, ERG and MYC.

This work highlights potential therapeutic targets to defeat enhancer-addicted prostate and possibly other cancers. Equally important, PROTAC synergised with the androgen receptor antagonists, which are often used to treat prostate cancer, making them more effective.

“Dovetail has always put an acute focus on cancer research, understanding that proximity ligation takes oncology studies to the next level,” said Todd Dickinson, CEO of Dovetail Genomics. “We were thrilled to partner with Dr. Chinnaiyan on this study, helping to identify a critical advance in cancer data and research.”

The full article can be found at www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-04246-z

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Pathology Horizons 2024

MacDonald Bath Spa Hotel, Bath
18-20 April, 2024

Diagnostics North East Conference 2024

The Catalyst, Newcastle upon Tyne
19 April, 2024

ECCMID 2024 - European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

Fira Gran Via, 08038 Barcelona, Spain
27-30 April 2024

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UK Health Security Agency, Colindale, London
2 May 2024

EQA Reports: Interpreting Key Information & Troubleshooting Tips

ONLINE - Zoom
Thursday 16th May 2024

Participants’ Meeting: UK NEQAS Immunology, Immunochemistry & Allergy

Sheffield Hallam University, City Campus, Howard Street, Sheffield
24th May 2024

Access the latest issue of Pathology In Practice on your mobile device together with an archive of back issues.

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