July 19, 2018 – In a study recently published in the journal Science, researchers led by UNC Lineberger’s Qing Zhang, Ph.D., suggest that a protein, ZHX2, is a potential target for new therapeutic treatments for Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma; the most common type of kidney cancer.
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More than 90% of the common kidney cancers have a genetic change that results in the loss of an important tumor suppressor called VHL. In this study, researchers were able to identify a new downstream effect of this genetic change that is driving kidney cancer growth. The findings of this research suggest that ZHX2 could therefore potentially be targeted by newer therapeutic treatments.
UNC Lineberger’s William Kim, MD, said there have been major advances in the treatment of kidney cancer with the development of molecularly-targeted therapies and immune-based treatments. However, additional treatments are needed to reach more patients with metastatic disease.