SUNGKYUNKWAN UNIVERSITY (SKKU), SEOUL, KOREA
Pancreatic cancer is a highly aggressive malig-nancy with a very low median survival rate. The lack of early sensitive diagnostic markers is one of the main causes of pancreatic cancer-associated lethality. Therefore, identification of novel pancreatic cancer biomarkers is urgently needed to facilitate early diagnosis and also help in the development of effective pancreatic cancer therapeutics. In January, research team led by Prof. Dong-ki Lee and Dr. Pooja Dua at the Chemistry Deparmtent of Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) reported a discovery of novel pancreatic cancer biomarkers using aptamer technology.
Aptamer is a nucleic acid probe, and like antibodies, it can bind to its target molecule with high affinity and specificity. Prof. Lee's team first identified an aptamer that recognizes pancreatic cancer cells with high specificity. Next, by applying aptamer-based proteomics approach, they identified alkaline phosphatase placental-like 2 (ALPPL2) as a novel pancreatic cancer biomarker. ALPPL2 was found to be ectopically expressed in many pancreatic cancer cell lines. Additionally, Prof. Lee's team discovered evidence that supports the use of ALPPL2 as a marker for serum- and membrane-based pancreatic cancer diagnosis and therapeutics.
The results of this study were published in online first edition of 'Cancer Research', a leading academic journal about cancer research.
For more information: "Alkaline Phosphatase ALPPL2 is a Novel Pancreatic Carcinoma-associ-ated Protein" http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/early/recent
