Posted on: Thu 06-03-2025

A United States-based Nigerian doctoral researcher in systems biology and immunology, Prosper Chukwuemeka, is advancing cancer research by combining computational tools with biology.

His innovative approach explores the reasons behind treatment failures and aims to uncover new strategies to outsmart the disease.

Speaking on his work, Chukwuemeka said: “Cancer is like solving a giant, complex puzzle. Systems biology allows me to work at the intersection of computers and experimental biology. By combining these fields, I can better understand cancer and how to create smarter treatments.”

One of his most exciting discoveries involves the identification of a naphthyridine-containing small molecule he calls CPO, which has the potential to be a game-changing cancer therapy. CPO disrupts two proteins, MDM2 and MDMX that cancer cells use to block p53, a key “guardian” protein that prevents cells from growing out of control. When p53 is disabled, cancer can thrive.

In 2021, Chukwuemeka’s team used advanced computer models to search through thousands of compounds and identified CPO as a promising candidate to block MDM2.

However, they realised that targeting only MDM2 wasn’t enough—MDMX could continue disabling p53. Recently, his research showed that CPO might also block MDMX, making it a potential dual-action therapy that targets both proteins.

“This dual mechanism is particularly exciting and could help reduce cancer’s ability to resist treatment. By using computational tools, we can quickly predict how compounds like CPO might work. This method not only speeds up the discovery process but also provides a clear path for future research,” he said.

While Chukwuemeka’s work is focused on systems-level analysis, he emphasised that experimental studies are needed to test CPO further and explore its full potential.

“We’re not testing CPO in the lab yet, but we’ve outlined the next steps: studies in cell cultures, animal models, and beyond. These are essential before we can think about clinical applications,” he explained.

Looking ahead, Chukwuemeka’s goal is to continue using systems biology to find innovative cancer treatments and better understand how the immune system interacts with tumours. “Cancer is always evolving to resist treatments, but systems biology helps us stay one step ahead. Someday, we hope to study CPO more deeply to unlock its full potential as a therapy,” Chukwuemeka stated.

He also stressed the importance of collaboration in science. “Working together and combining ideas from different fields is how we make breakthroughs. With tools like systems biology and immunology, we’re closer than ever to finding solutions that truly help people,” the scientist noted.

Through his work, Chukwuemeka is showing how systems biology can bridge the gap between computational insights and experimental biology, offering new hope in the fight against cancer.

SOURCE: GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER

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