Question ID: Oct 9-4
Submitted by: October 9, 2010 Provocative Questions Workshop - Submitted to the website
December 17, 2010
Why do many cancer cells die when suddenly deprived of a protein encoded by an oncogene?
Background: The viability of cancer cells is often dependent on the continued production and activity of oncogenic proteins that the cell’s normal progenitor or an equivalent cell did not require. This forms the basis for swift regression of several tumor types with targeted therapies or other means of inhibiting expression of an oncogene.
Feasibility: Many examples of oncogene-dependence (or “oncogene addiction” as it is commonly called), both in human cancers and mouse models of cancer, are now subjects of great interest because the “addicting” oncogene products are promising targets for modern cancer therapy. The signaling networks in which they are active are also being studied to identify other therapeutic targets. However, little is known about the purported “imbalances” in cells that render them hypersensitive to loss of oncogene products that their healthy progenitors lacked.
Implications of success: Knowledge of how a cell develops vulnerability to the loss or inactivation of an oncogenic protein, and undergoes programmed cell death in consequence, would very likely suggest additional novel targets for therapy. In addition, it might offer insight into the question of which tumors are susceptible to targeted therapies and the problem of eliminating all cells in a tumor with such therapies.
Average Score: 3.5
 (1 evaluation)Provocativeness - 2.0
Novelty - 3.0
Public Health Significance - 4.0
Feasibility - 4.0
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