by A recent study published in the journal iScience sheds new light on the crucial roles of RNA-binding proteins, LARP4A and LARP4B, in the development and progression of sarcoma and carcinoma cancers. This research, which was a significant part of Jen Coleman’s Ph.D. thesis, has earned her a prestigious award for the best Ph.D. thesis.
Traditionally, cancer has been considered a genetic disease driven by mutations in oncogenes, loss of tumor suppressor genes, or a combination of both. However, recent research has started to explore the role of RNA-binding proteins, which regulate gene expression in health and disease.
The Conte and Grigoriadis labs at King’s College London focused on LARP4A and LARP4B, two RNA-binding proteins with unclear roles in cancer development. The researchers discovered that these proteins promote the growth of sarcoma and carcinoma cancers. Specifically, blocking LARP4A and LARP4B prevented the formation of cancer tumors, indicating their potential as therapeutic targets.
The study revealed distinct roles for LARP4A and LARP4B within cancer cells, providing the first evidence of their differences in cancer development. The authors aim to build upon these findings to develop drugs that can target LARP4A and LARP4B, contributing to the broader understanding of RNA-binding proteins in cancer research.
Professor Conte stated, “RNA-binding proteins play essential roles in various cellular processes, making it unsurprising that their dysregulation is linked to cancer. Our findings demonstrate that LARP4A and LARP4B promote cancer growth and spread. By understanding the precise mechanisms these proteins use to promote cancer, we can identify potential targets for therapies.”
The future research direction for the Conte and Grigoriadis labs includes further investigation into the mechanisms of LARP4A and LARP4B in cancer growth, which can lead to the identification of novel therapeutic targets.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
