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Cancer/testis antigens as molecular drug targets using network pharmacology

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Tumor Biology

Abstract

Present chemotherapeutic drugs have limited efficacy and severe side effects. Considering the complexity of cancer, an effective strategy is necessary to discover multiple new drug targets. Cancer/testis antigens are vital for cancer cell progression. We have performed a computational network analysis of cancer/testis antigens and assessed these antigens as drug targets. During this analysis, protein interaction network of 700 human CT antigens was investigated. CT antigen network consisted of eight independent components. Four major hubs and two minor hubs were identified that play nodal role in the flow of information across the largest network. We have predicted 30 potential drug targets by analysing several topological parameters such as betweenness centrality, cluster coefficient and probable protein complexes. Structural and functional roles of potential drug targets have also been anatomized. Analysis of the CT antigen network enables us to pinpoint a set of candidate proteins that if targeted could be detrimental for cancerous cell without affecting any normal cell. The list of putative proteins is a starting point for experimental validation and may help further in the discovery of new anticancer drug targets.

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Acknowledgments

Authors are thankful to SERB, Dept. of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India for providing financial assistance to the lab. Authors would also like to acknowledge the help and guidance received by Dr. Vishal Acharya, IHBT, Palampur, while preparing manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shriram Institute for Industrial Research, 19, University Road Delhi, Delhi, 110 007, India

    Anuj Kumar, M. L. Aggarwal & K. M. Chacko

  2. Department of Biotechnology, Central University of Rajasthan, NH-8, Bandarsindri, Rajasthan, 305801, India

    Drista Sharma & Tarun Kumar Bhatt

Authors
  1. Anuj Kumar
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  2. Drista Sharma
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  3. M. L. Aggarwal
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  4. K. M. Chacko
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  5. Tarun Kumar Bhatt
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Correspondence to Anuj Kumar or Tarun Kumar Bhatt.

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Kumar, A., Sharma, D., Aggarwal, M.L. et al. Cancer/testis antigens as molecular drug targets using network pharmacology. Tumor Biol. 37, 15697–15705 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13277-016-5333-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13277-016-5333-2

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