Kinaxo Reveals Cellular Target

Kinaxo Biotechnologies has successfully applied its Cellular Target Profiling technology to identify the protein kinase mTOR as a cellular target of celecoxib.

Celecoxib is a non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory Cox-2 inhibitor approved for the treatment of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and acute pain. In addition, its anti-proliferative effect has earned it a place in clinical trials against several malignancies.

The discovery that the drug targets mTOR, contributes to a better understanding of the drug’s mode of action and efficacy in cancer patients. mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) acts as a central regulator of cell proliferation, cell survival, angiogenesis and cell metabolism.

Moreover, mTOR is a key intracellular convergence point for a number of signaling pathways that are abnormally activated in many types of cancer.