Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory are uncovering new therapeutic targets for hard-to-treat carcinomas that act as “shapeshifters” by changing their cellular identity to resemble cells from other organs. In two recent studies, Professor Christopher Vakoc’s team identified a protein that controls whether pancreatic cancer cells maintain their form or transform to resemble skin cells, and revealed the structure of proteins crucial to tuft cell lung cancer. These discoveries build on the lab’s 17-year quest to find “master regulators” of cellular identity that could become targets for new medicines, similar to existing hormone therapies for breast and prostate cancers. Importantly, the research shows promise for highly specific treatments that target cancer without damaging healthy organs, setting a new standard for precision in cancer therapy. The work not only advances potential drug development but also deepens fundamental understanding of how cells establish and maintain their identity.
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How Cancer Shapeshifts
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