Kallikrein-related serine proteases as therapeutic targets for cancer

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Aberrant proteolysis is associated with many diseases, including cancer. Already, many Pharmaceutical companies are targeting proteases for developing new therapeutics for cancer and other diseases. Our laboratory is leading research related to a family of serine proteases called "human tissue kallikreins" (KLKs). These KLKs are 15 extracellular proteases which appear to be closely linked to tumour progression. We thus believe that KLKs represent a new, and promising, cancer drug target. In this application, we propose to pre-clinically validate a few members of the kallikrein family as therapeutic targets for treatment of cancer. We will use quantitative proteomics, in-vitro cell-based assays and animal xenograft models to increase our understanding of kallikrein pathophysiology in breast cancer. This investigation may lead to development of novel therapies for breast and other cancers.