The team of Prof. Marcin Poręba from the chemical department of the Wrocław University of Science and Technology is developing a new method of cancer biomarker analysis, and a new prodrug, i.e. a molecule that will attack and destroy cancer cells. The scientists received a grant from the National Science Center for their research.
First, scientists will create chemical markers equipped with metals for specific enzymes: proteases and protein kinases – two main groups of enzymes that, depending on the situation (biological context), play a pro-tumor or anti-tumor role in the cell. Later, they will use them in various biological systems to influence cancer cells taken from patients with breast cancer.
The final stage of the work will be the development of antibody-drug conjugates that will activate only with selected enzymes. In this way, scientists will create solution delivering and activating the drug in cancer cells.
