Structural Biology: Pursuing a New Era of Drug Discovery

MCW Cancer Center scientists are identifying new cancer therapies for targeting and treating cancer by investigating the science behind the chemical makeup and three-dimensional shape of proteins and their role in cancer.

Understanding Structural Biology

The development of new cancer therapies for targeting and treating cancer is only made possible by advancements in structural biology – the science behind the chemical makeup and three-dimensional shape of proteins and their role in cancer. To be effective, a cancer drug must bind to a specific site or pocket on the target protein. Drugs fail when they don’t bind to the pocket tightly enough or they bind to proteins other than the intended target, causing toxic side effects.
MCW Cancer Center scientists are remarkably good at using these sciences to identify new pathways for the treatment of cancer. Discoveries are leading to pivotal drug therapies that interfere with the biological function cancer cells rely on to grow and spread. This enables us to deliver more personalized, effective, and less toxic drug therapies that can be tailored or combined to treat a patient’s cancer.
Structural Biology
Leading from the front and pushing the boundaries of science strengthens what’s possible for patients in Wisconsin and deepens our position as a hub for physicians and investigators seeking to develop innovative precision medicine techniques for the treatment of cancer.

Leveraging MCW’s vast clinical trial portfolio and diverse patient population, we’ve been able to spur new collaborations with other academic medical centers that have garnered more than 1,800 participants in clinical trials where new therapies are first made available to patients.