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Jun 15, 2025, 10:46

PROTAC Targeting LZK Shows Promise for Treating HNSCC – NCI Center for Cancer Research

NCI Center for Cancer Research shared a post on LinkedIn about a paper by

“In 70% of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cases, researchers have observed an excess of the gene MAP3K13, which produces a protein called LZK. A team at CCR developed a proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) that induces LZK degradation, resulting in reduced HNSCC cell survival. This study provides the basis for developing more LZK-targeted therapeutics, particularly PROTACS, to effectively treat HNSCC.

Image: Chemical structure of GNE-3511, an inhibitor of LZK.”

Title: Targeting c-MYC and gain-of-function p53 through inhibition or degradation of the kinase LZK suppresses the growth of HNSCC tumors

Authors: Amy L Funk, Meghri Katerji, Marwa Afifi, Katherine Nyswaner, Carolyn C Woodroofe, Zoe C Edwards, Eric Lindberg, Knickole L Bergman, Nancy R Gough, Maxine R Rubin, Kamila Karpińska, Eleanor W Trotter, Sweta Dash, Amy L Ries, Amy James, Christina M Robinson, Simone Difilippantonio, Baktiar O Karim, Ting-Chia Chang, Li Chen, Xin Xu, James H Doroshow, Ivan Ahel, Anna A Marusiak, Rolf E Swenson, Steven D Cappell, John Brognard

PROTAC Targeting LZK Shows Promise for Treating HNSCC - NCI Center for Cancer Research

You can read the Full Article in Science Signaling.

More posts featuring NCI Center for Cancer Research.

Amy L Funk Anna A Marusiak cancer Carolyn C Woodroofe head and neck squamous cell carcinoma HNSCC Ivan Ahel James H Doroshow John Brognard Katherine Nyswaner LZK MAP3K13 Marwa Afifi Meghri Katerji NCI NCI Center for Cancer Research OncoDaily Oncology PROTAC Proteolysis Targeting Chimera Rolf E Swenson Steven D Cappell

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