Glycomimetic Lysosome-targeting Chimeras (GLYTACs) for Degradation of Growth Factors and Growth Factor Receptors in Cancer Cells. (PubMed, bioRxiv)
For example, anticancer therapies targeting vascular endothelial growth factor activity have been effective in blocking pro-angiogenic and pro-growth signals, including receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (e.g., Sunitinib and Sorafenib) and monoclonal antibodies (e.g., Bevacizumab). The capacity of heparin to promote the association of FGF2 with its cognate receptors (FGFRs) led to the degradation of the entire receptor-ligand complex, thereby reducing the availability of FGFRs at the cancer cell surface, which are necessary for sustained pro-oncogenic signaling. These findings highlight the potential of GLYTACs as an alternative to existing growth factor-blocking anticancer therapies and as a strategy to reshape the extracellular signaling environment of tumors.