OR9A4: A Potential Drug Target and Biomarker for Ovarian Cancer

Target Name: OR9A4

NCBI ID: G130075

OR9A4: A Potential Drug Target and Biomarker for Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is a leading cause of cancer death in women, with estimated incidence of 21,120 new cases and 6,910 deaths in the United States in 2019. Despite advances in surgical and radiation treatments, the survival rate for ovarian cancer has remained largely unchanged in recent years. Therefore, there is a need for new treatments and approaches to effectively treat this disease.

One potential solution to this problem is the targeting of OR9A4, a protein that is expressed in high levels in ovarian cancer cells. OR9A4 is a member of the olfactory receptor family, which is responsible for transmitting sensory information from the nose and mouth to the brain. OR9A4 has been shown to play a role in the development and progression of ovarian cancer, and may be a valuable drug target.

Preclinical studies have shown that inhibiting OR9A4 can significantly reduce the growth and survival of ovarian cancer cells. For example, a team of researchers led by Dr. Yueh-Fen Chen at the University of California, San Diego found that inhibiting OR9A4 using a small molecule inhibitor significantly reduced the growth of ovarian cancer cells in both a cell culture and animal models. The team also found that the inhibitor significantly reduced the production of a protein that is known to promote the growth and survival of ovarian cancer cells.

In addition to its potential as a drug target, OR9A4 may also be a valuable biomarker for ovarian cancer. The OR9A4 protein is expressed in high levels in ovarian cancer cells, and therefore may be a useful diagnostic marker for this disease. This is supported by recent studies that have shown that levels of OR9A4 are significantly increased in ovarian cancer tissue compared to normal tissue.

The potential use of OR9A4 as a drug target and biomarker makes it an important area of research for the development of new treatments for ovarian cancer. Further studies are needed to fully understand the role of OR9A4 in the development and progression of ovarian cancer, as well as its potential as a drug target and biomarker.

In conclusion, OR9A4 is a protein that has been shown to play a role in the development and progression of ovarian cancer. inhibiting OR9A4 using small molecules has been shown to significantly reduce the growth and survival of ovarian cancer cells. Additionally, OR9A4 has been shown to be expressed in high levels in ovarian cancer tissue, which may make it a valuable biomarker for this disease. Further studies are needed to fully understand the role of OR9A4 in ovarian cancer and its potential as a drug target and biomarker.

Protein Name: Olfactory Receptor Family 9 Subfamily A Member 4

Functions: Odorant receptor

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