Cell–cell interactions in the tumour microenvironment are often mediated by ligand proteins secreted by one cell that are recognized by specific receptors presenting on neighbouring cells. This intercellular communication activates signaling pathways through the induction of dynamic posttranslational modifications such as phosphorylation. Meanwhile, dysregulation of ligand–receptor interactions in the tumour microenvironment is known to promote cancer growth and metastasis.

Mass-spectrometry-based proteomics are a robust approach for characterizing these signaling events on a global scale. However, proteomic studies of intercellular signaling directly from limited clinical tissue samples have been challenging.

In this webcast, Dr Ruijun Tian of the Southern University of Science and Technology will present the recent development of a series of clinical functional proteomic approaches toward this end.

Besides the recent discovery of leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) as a drug target and potential biomarker for pancreatic cancer, Dr Tian’s work explores many secreted ligand–membrane receptor pairs, and provides valuable resources for systematically understanding dysfunctional signaling networks in the pancreatic tumour microenvironment in a context closer to physiological conditions than was previously possible. Based on the extremely sensitive Simoa system, he is actively exploring a new biomarker panel in combination with LIF for early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

You will learn:

• The role of LIF as a drug target and potential biomarker for pancreatic cancer
• How these approaches expand our understanding of dysfunctional signaling networks in the pancreatic tumour microenvironment
• How Simoa technology is significant in the investigation of novel biomarkers in conjunction with LIF for early detection of pancreatic cancer

Presenter:

Ruijun Tian

Director, Research Center for Chemical Biology and Omics Analysis
Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech)

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