Researchers at Mayo Clinic in Florida have used artificial intelligence to design a small molecule that binds a protein region drug developers had largely written off, and in laboratory studies the compound slowed pancreatic tumor growth and improved survival in experimental models.
The target is the PDZ domain of GIPC1, a scaffolding protein overexpressed in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma that supports tumor growth and resistance to treatment. The findings were published in Cell Reports on July 31. The compound, termed GIPCi, also strengthened the effect of the chemotherapy drug gemcitabine and showed early signs of altering the environment around tumors.
