VHIO researchers identify liver cancer vulnerability

A study led by the Cell Cycle and Cancer Group at the Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO) has identified a specific vulnerability in hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common type of primary liver cancer in adults.

Published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the research demonstrates that certain tumor cells rely on the combined action of two proteins, CDK16 and CDK18, to repair their DNA and continue multiplying. The study found that while inhibiting a single protein has a limited effect due to compensatory mechanisms, simultaneously deactivating both proteins prevents the cells from repairing genetic material, leading to accumulated damage and cell death.

Dr. Marcos Malumbres, head of the Cell Cycle and Cancer Group, noted that identifying these dependencies allows for the development of therapies that target different mechanisms than current treatments, which often struggle to manage advanced stages of the disease.