Two promising targets for new therapies

After discovering these zones, the researchers then dissected the tumours to identify the proteins they contained. "We selectively isolated cancer cell surface proteins and matrix proteins. They are accessible and are the first point of contact between the tumour and its environment, and are thus good targets from a therapeutic point of view," explains Andrei Turtoi. The identification of these proteins led the scientists to several known proteins already used in clinics as targets for cancer therapy. These data can be used now to optimize existing treatment protocols. They also identified novel proteins, two of which are particularly interesting targets: LTBP2 and TGFBI. Indeed, these proteins could be very good markers given that they are expressed in the cells of most of the zones identified in CRC liver metastasis. And Andrei Turtoi and his colleagues have already found antibodies that can target these two proteins. The next step is to test the effect of these antibodies on a mouse model of colorectal cancer.
 
In addition to providing new prospects for targeted therapies for colorectal cancer, this research shows how important it is to study the proteomic aspect of tumours, and not just their genetics. "Proteins are finally determinant for the phenotype. Studying tumours by focusing on the phenotype may open the doors to new therapeutic treatments," Andrei Turtoi concludes.

The human PET images used in this figure were generated by Department of Nuclear Imaging of CHU Liege, Prof. Roland Hustinx. Tomographic image of small rodent was performed with the support of Prof. Alain Vanderplasschen, Laboratory of Immunology - Vaccinology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, ULg.