A group of researchers at Boston University has mapped out key new insights into the command and control center of cancer cells, offering a new approach to identifying cancer cells and targeting them with new treatments.

"Identifying the phosphorylation status of proteins in cancer cells versus normal cells provides us with a unique ability to understand and perhaps intervene with the command and control center of cancer cells," said co-senior study author Professor Simon Kasif. And targeting a specific collection of proteins would potentially offer an effective therapy for all types of lung cancers, say the researchers.

"This is the first statistically validated phosphopeptide signature to diagnose any disease, much less cancer or lung cancer," added senior co-author Dr. Martin Steffen.  

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