Key Findings:
- Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) subtypes based on transcription factor expression patterns of ASCL1, NEUROD1, YAP1 and POU2F3, and the resultant four subtypes SCLC-A, SCLC-N, SCLC-Y and SCLC-P, have set the stage for development of more effective treatment strategies for this aggressive disease.
- We examined the surfaceome profiles of the SCLC subtypes using whole transcriptome sequencing of 674 small-cell lung cancer samples.
- The SCLC-Y subtype showed the highest expression of the gene that encodes the highly pursued drug target TROP2, TACSTD1, and its interacting and regulatory genes, suggesting this subtype could be a candidate for antibody-drug-conjugates targeting TROP2.
- Several additional candidate cancer/testis antigens and surfaceome genes showing strong correlation with lineage-defining transcription factors offer additional therapeutic targets in SCLC.