SWI/SNF complexes control how genes are turned on or off in our cells. Some rare and aggressive type of cancers, such as small cell ovarian cancer and dedifferentiated ovarian cancer, completely lose the function of these complexes, leading to particularly hard-to-treat tumors.

The team’s recent research found that targeting certain proteins on their cell surface could offer new ways to treat these cancers. In the current project, they will perform a comprehensive study to find all surface proteins that could be targeted (the “surfaceome”). They will prioritize those with available antibody-drug conjugates for validation and perform unbiased screens to identify additional surface proteins critical for their growth. This research could lead to the development of new treatments using antibody-based therapies, which could help fight these aggressive cancers more effectively.