Journal News

Scientists identify pan-cancer biomarkers

Ecem Arpaci
By Ecem Arpaci
April 30, 2025

Genomics and transcriptomics have successfully identified many therapeutic targets for cancer. However, changes in protein abundances and their chemical modifications can also drive tumor progression. To consider this additional dimension, Guo-sheng Hu, Zao-zao Zheng, Yao-hui He, Du-chuang Wang and colleagues at Xiamen University analyzed RNA and protein data from thousands of patients with 13 cancer types. They published their findings in Molecular & Cellular Proteomics. Using bioinformatics tools, they identified upregulated and downregulated genes specific to each cancer type as well as genes common to most types analyzed.

DNA ligase encircles the double helix to repair a broken strand of DNA.
Tom Ellenberger, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, via Wikimedia Commons
DNA ligase encircles the double helix to repair a broken strand of DNA.

The team discovered that tissue-specific genes were downregulated at both RNA and protein levels in all cancer types, indicating a loss of tissue identity. They showed that many genes involved in messenger RNA splicing, interferon pathway, fatty acid metabolism, and complement coagulation cascade, were dysregulated across several cancer types. The authors also found that ADH1B, the alcohol dehydrogenase that converts ethanol to acetaldehyde, was significantly downregulated in all cancer types. Conversely, the ribonucleotide regulatory subunit RRM2 was overexpressed. These proteins are examples of potential pan-cancer biomarkers, which can be used to discern cancer tissues from normal cells and potentially inform novel therapeutic strategies.

Effective cancer treatment also requires knowledge of the tumor’s stage of progression. To identify biomarkers for each tumor stage, the team analyzed how the cancer proteome changed throughout tumor progression. They used these findings to build models for tumor stage classification of several cancer types based on these biomarkers. They further constructed prognostic risk stratification models for corresponding cancer types based on dysregulated genes. They found that these models, when combined with the tumor-node-metastasis classification system, predicted cancer patient prognosis more accurately than either approach individually.

Protein-based approaches like these could be the key to better understanding cancer mechanisms and developing better treatments. Inhibitor drugs targeting RRM2 and other differentially expressed proteins identified in this study could be used to treat a range of cancer types and will be investigated further in future studies.

Enjoy reading ASBMB Today?

Become a member to receive the print edition four times a year and the digital edition monthly.

Learn more
Ecem Arpaci
Ecem Arpaci

Ecem Arpaci is a biochemistry student at Imperial College London and a research intern at Radboud University Medical Center. She is an ASBMB Today volunteer contributor.

Get the latest from ASBMB Today

Enter your email address, and we’ll send you a weekly email with recent articles, interviews and more.

Latest in Science

Science highlights or most popular articles

AI-designed biomarker improves malaria diagnostics
Journal News

AI-designed biomarker improves malaria diagnostics

Oct. 8, 2025

Researchers from the University of Melbourne engineered Plasmodium vivax diagnostic protein with enhanced yield and stability while preserving antibody-binding, paving the way for more reliable malaria testing.

Matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor reduces cancer invasion
Journal News

Matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor reduces cancer invasion

Oct. 8, 2025

Scientists at the Mayo Clinic engineered a TIMP-1 protein variant that selectively inhibits MMP-9 and reduces invasion of triple-negative breast cancer cells, offering a promising tool for targeted cancer research.

Antibiotic sensor directly binds drug in resistant bacteria
Journal News

Antibiotic sensor directly binds drug in resistant bacteria

Oct. 8, 2025

Researchers at Drexel University uncover how the vancomycin-resistant bacterial sensor binds to the antibiotic, offering insights to guide inhibitor design that restores antibiotic effectiveness against hospital-acquired infections.

ApoA1 reduce atherosclerotic plaques via cell death pathway
Journal News

ApoA1 reduce atherosclerotic plaques via cell death pathway

Oct. 1, 2025

Researchers show that ApoA1, a key HDL protein, helps reduce plaque and necrotic core formation in atherosclerosis by modulating Bim-driven macrophage death. The findings reveal new insights into how ApoA1 protects against heart disease.

Omega-3 lowers inflammation, blood pressure in obese adults
Journal News

Omega-3 lowers inflammation, blood pressure in obese adults

Oct. 1, 2025

A randomized study shows omega-3 supplements reduce proinflammatory chemokines and lower blood pressure in obese adults, furthering the understanding of how to modulate cardiovascular disease risk.

AI unlocks the hidden grammar of gene regulation
Feature

AI unlocks the hidden grammar of gene regulation

Sept. 30, 2025

Using fruit flies and artificial intelligence, Julia Zeitlinger’s lab is decoding genome patterns — revealing how transcription factors and nucleosomes control gene expression, pushing biology toward faster, more precise discoveries.