Proteomics and Drug Repurposing in CLL towards Precision Medicine
1
Laboratory of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
2
Functional Proteomics and Systems Biology (FunPATh)—Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation (CIRI-AUTH), GR-57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
3
Basic and Translational Research Unit, Special Unit for Biomedical Research and Education, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
4
Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation of Research and Technology, GR-70013 Heraklion, Greece
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Cancers 2021, 13(14), 3391; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers13143391
Submission received: 6 May 2021
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Revised: 25 June 2021
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Accepted: 29 June 2021
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Published: 6 July 2021
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Drug Targets and Advances in Treatment of CLL)
Simple Summary
Despite continued efforts, the current status of knowledge in CLL molecular pathobiology, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment remains elusive and imprecise. Proteomics approaches combined with advanced bioinformatics and drug repurposing promise to shed light on the complex proteome heterogeneity of CLL patients and mitigate, improve, or even eliminate the knowledge stagnation. In relation to this concept, this review presents a brief overview of all the available proteomics and drug repurposing studies in CLL and suggests the way such studies can be exploited to find effective therapeutic options combined with drug repurposing strategies to adopt and accost a more “precision medicine” spectrum.
Abstract
CLL is a hematological malignancy considered as the most frequent lymphoproliferative disease in the western world. It is characterized by high molecular heterogeneity and despite the available therapeutic options, there are many patient subgroups showing the insufficient effectiveness of disease treatment. The challenge is to investigate the individual molecular characteristics and heterogeneity of these patients. Proteomics analysis is a powerful approach that monitors the constant state of flux operators of genetic information and can unravel the proteome heterogeneity and rewiring into protein pathways in CLL patients. This review essences all the available proteomics studies in CLL and suggests the way these studies can be exploited to find effective therapeutic options combined with drug repurposing approaches. Drug repurposing utilizes all the existing knowledge of the safety and efficacy of FDA-approved or investigational drugs and anticipates drug alignment to crucial CLL therapeutic targets, leading to a better disease outcome. The drug repurposing studies in CLL are also discussed in this review. The next goal involves the integration of proteomics-based drug repurposing in precision medicine, as well as the application of this procedure into clinical practice to predict the most appropriate drugs combination that could ensure therapy and the long-term survival of each CLL patient.
Keywords:
CLL; proteomics; drug repurposing; precision medicine; malignancy
