Targeting fusion proteins: a double edge sword?

摘要

Translocation-associated sarcomas (TAS) are generally very aggressive with poor response to chemotherapy and when present with metastasis their prognosis worsens significantly. TAS usually have a relatively simple genome, wherein the main driver of the disease is a fusion protein resulting from a chromosomal translocation [1], These oncogenic fusion proteins are tumor-specific, and, therefore, constitute an exceptional target. Finding a therapy that seeks and destroys a specific translocation would kill the cancer cell without killing surrounding healthy cells.