Assessment of targets of antibody drug conjugates in SCLC.

Antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) therapy has transformed treatment for several solid tumors, including small cell lung cancer (SCLC). However, significant challenges remain, including systemic toxicity, acquired resistance, and the lack of reliable biomarkers for patient selection. To enhance the effectiveness of ADC therapies in SCLC, we focused on target selection in this study by investigating the expression of ADC targets - SEZ6, DLL3, CD276, and TACSTD2 - in cell lines and patient samples.

Identification of HEPACAM2 as a novel and specific marker of small cell carcinoma.

Background: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is the most aggressive neuroendocrine lung cancer, with a dismal 5-year survival rate. No reliable biomarkers or imaging are available for early SCLC detection. In a search for a specific marker of SCLC, this study identified that hepatocyte cell adhesion molecule 2 (HEPACAM2), a member of the immunoglobulin-like superfamily, is highly and specifically expressed in SCLC.

Mistletoe lectin inhibits growth of Myc-amplified small-cell lung cancer.

Background: Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is the deadliest form of lung cancer but lacks targeted therapies.

Methods: We studied the effect of the natural product mistletoe lectin (ML) in pre-clinical models of SCLC, focusing on cell lines with amplification of the myc family oncogenes C-myc and N-myc.

Results: We found that ML treatment inhibits growth of SCLC cell lines in culture and induces apoptosis.

Retinoblastoma Expression and Targeting by CDK4/6 Inhibitors in Small Cell Lung Cancer.

The canonical model of "small cell lung cancer" (SCLC) depicts tumors arising from dual inactivation of TP53 and RB1. However, many genomic studies have persistently identified tumors with no RB1 mutations. Here, we examined RB1 protein expression and function in SCLC.

Comparative systems pharmacology of HIF stabilization in the prevention of retinopathy of prematurity.

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) causes 100,000 new cases of childhood blindness each year. ROP is initiated by oxygen supplementation necessary to prevent neonatal death. We used organ systems pharmacology to define the transcriptomes of mice that were cured of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR, ROP model) by hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) stabilization via HIF prolyl hydroxylase inhibition using the isoquinolone Roxadustat or the 2-oxoglutarate analog dimethyloxalylglycine (DMOG).

Proangiogenic Properties of Thrombospondin-4.

Objective: Thrombospondin-4 (TSP-4) is 1 of the 5 members of the thrombospondin protein family. TSP-1 and TSP-2 are potent antiangiogenic proteins. However, angiogenic properties of the 3 other TSPs, which do not contain the domains associated with the antiangiogeneic activity of TSP-1 and TSP-2, have not been explored.

Inducing a visceral organ to protect a peripheral capillary bed: stabilizing hepatic HIF-1α prevents oxygen-induced retinopathy.

Activation of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) can prevent oxygen-induced retinopathy in rodents. Here we demonstrate that dimethyloxaloylglycine (DMOG)-induced retinovascular protection is dependent on hepatic HIF-1 because mice deficient in liver-specific HIF-1α experience hyperoxia-induced damage even with DMOG treatment, whereas DMOG-treated wild-type mice have 50% less avascular retina (P < 0.0001).