Description:

Charles Craik, PhD
Professor, Departments of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmacology, and Biochemistry/Biophysics
University of California San Francisco

Global protease activity profiling for pancreatic cancer diagnosis and treatment

ABSTRACT: With approximately 2-3% of the human genome encoding proteolytic enzymes we have been developing methods to determine their physiological roles. We recently developed Multiplex Substrate Profiling by Mass Spectrometry (MSP-MS) to functionally “profile” a given protease or complex biological sample. We have applied this methodology to over 150 proteases and had excellent results in the diagnostic area in early stage pancreatic cancer detection. We have also recently expanded this technology to numerous kinases and other post-translational enzymes. Coupling this global substrate profiling approach, with our antibody engineering and noninvasive imaging efforts are providing a better understanding of both the chemical make-up and the biological importance of these critical proteins to aid in the rapid detection, monitoring and control of cancer.