Open AccessIdentification of potential therapeutic targets in prostate cancer through a cross‐species approach
Author(s) -
Jurmeister Sarah,
RamosMontoya Antonio,
Sandi Chiranjeevi,
PértegaGomes Nelma,
Wadhwa Karan,
Lamb Alastair D,
Dunning Mark J,
Attig Jan,
Carroll Jason S,
Fryer Lee GD,
Felisbino Sérgio L,
Neal David E
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
embo molecular medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.923
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1757-4684
pISSN - 1757-4676
DOI - 10.15252/emmm.201708274
Subject(s) - library science , identification (biology) , medicine , oncology , computer science , biology , botany
Genetically engineered mouse models of cancer can be used to filter genome‐wide expression datasets generated from human tumours and to identify gene expression alterations that are functionally important to cancer development and progression. In this study, we have generated RNA seq data from tumours arising in two established mouse models of prostate cancer, PB ‐Cre/Pten loxP/loxP and p53 loxP/lox P R b loxP/loxP , and integrated this with published human prostate cancer expression data to pinpoint cancer‐associated gene expression changes that are conserved between the two species. To identify potential therapeutic targets, we then filtered this information for genes that are either known or predicted to be druggable. Using this approach, we revealed a functional role for the kinase MELK as a driver and potential therapeutic target in prostate cancer. We found that MELK expression was required for cell survival, affected the expression of genes associated with prostate cancer progression and was associated with biochemical recurrence.