Kendrick Labs: Advancing Cancer Treatment with Innovative Peptide Inhibitors
At Kendrick Labs, we specialize in GMP-level protein analysis using advanced 1D and 2D SDS PAGE techniques. Our cutting-edge 2D SDS PAGE system is compatible with SDS (the gold-standard reagent for solubilizing complex proteins like receptor tyrosine kinases [RTKs]) and enables the identification of critical biomarkers with unmatched precision. Our 2D system offers incredible reliability for analyzing membrane proteins, crucial in the study of cancer, including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).
Our Discovery: A Breakthrough in Pancreatic Cancer Research
We’ve recently made a groundbreaking discovery with potential for significant clinical impact. In analyzing human PDAC tissues, we identified a novel phosphotyrosine-mutant desmin (D399Y)—a protein that had not been detected in previous studies, including a major NIH proteogenomic analysis (Cao et al., 2021). This discovery offers a new potential target for therapy, as the D399Y mutation may drive the metastasis of PDAC.
What makes this finding truly interesting is that the mutated amino acid (D399Y) is phosphorylated at tyrosine, marking it as a potential biomarker for targeted therapy. This mutation could be involved in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process, which is crucial for cancer metastasis.
The Path to Potential Treatment
We believe that a peptide inhibitor targeting the D399Y mutation could inhibit Src phosphorylation and prevent the progression of metastasis. Such a peptide drug would be a straightforward design, as the sequence surrounding the phosphorylation site is known. This could offer a new class of targeted cancer treatments with minimal side effects—especially valuable in treating PDAC, where the prognosis is currently poor, and metastasis is the leading cause of death.
Why Partner with Us?
To move this exciting discovery forward, we are seeking partnerships with pharma and biotech companies. Our goal is to confirm these results and develop new peptide inhibitor drugs. We offer Contract Research Organization (CRO) services, including:
- GMP-level protein analysis
- Quantitative phosphotyrosine western blotting (pTyr WB)
- Mass spectrometry analysis for biomarker validation
Why This Matters
Our approach is a novel, reliable method to concentrate biomarker proteins from challenging tissue samples for MS characterization. This has been proven effective, even in cases where traditional methods failed. This unique approach offers significant advantages for identifying new cancer biomarkers and could accelerate drug development.
We’ve already demonstrated the ability to detect previously missed biomarkers, such as pTyr-mutant desmin, that could open new doors for PDAC treatment options.
Services & Pricing
Below is an overview of our service packages for PDAC/NAT sample analysis. All results are confidential and will belong to the partnering company, which will own any developed drugs.
| # of PDAC/NAT Samples | 1D pTyr WB ($) | 2D pTyr WB with Coomassie Spot Cutting ($) | Mass Spectrometry (MS) Analysis at Clarkson University ($) |
| 6 tumor / 6 NAT | 2,200 | 6,500 | TBD |
| 12 tumor / 12 NAT | 4,300 | 12,000 | TBD |
| 24 tumor / 24 NAT | 8,500 | 23,000 | TBD |
Let’s Work Together to Make a Difference
We are excited to collaborate with forward-thinking pharmaceutical and biotech companies to validate this discovery and advance the development of peptide-based inhibitors that could change the treatment landscape for PDAC and potentially other cancers.
If you are interested in discussing a partnership or learning more about our services, please contact us today!