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Cell Identification
Moderators: AmyCowen, kgudger, MadelineB, Moderators
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dracojex
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Sun Sep 23, 2012 9:01 am
- Occupation: Student 10th Grade
- Project Question: In depth study of ligands and other cell markers on the cellular membrane.
- Project Due Date: 10/30/12
- Project Status: I am conducting my research
Cell Identification
All cells have ligands and marker proteins on their cellular membranes. But do cancer cells have any markers specific to them?
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sunmoonstars
- Expert
- Posts: 424
- Joined: Fri Dec 12, 2008 3:47 pm
- Occupation: Platform Manager - Biologics
- Project Question: n/a
- Project Due Date: n/a
- Project Status: Not applicable
Re: Cell Identification
Hi Dracojex,
Yes, some of the surface markers are unique (in some way) to certain cancers - this can sometimes be an attractive target for a therapy. The "uniqueness" may be a difference (up or down) in the marker expression level; a difference in how the protein is folded, presented or bound to the membrane, which will affect the ligand binding in some way; or a new protein is expressed in a cell type it is not normally; or other ways.
The best example I can think of at the moment is Herceptin: http://www.herceptin.com/about/
Yes, some of the surface markers are unique (in some way) to certain cancers - this can sometimes be an attractive target for a therapy. The "uniqueness" may be a difference (up or down) in the marker expression level; a difference in how the protein is folded, presented or bound to the membrane, which will affect the ligand binding in some way; or a new protein is expressed in a cell type it is not normally; or other ways.
The best example I can think of at the moment is Herceptin: http://www.herceptin.com/about/