News

A research project led by Professor Zhang Ge, Associate Dean (Research) and Chair Professor of the School of Chinese Medicine, has secured over HK$2.18 million from the Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF) to develop a first-in-class targeted therapeutic drug for triple-negative breast cancer.

Triple-negative breast cancer is a highly aggressive and drug-resistant subtype with limited treatment options. The research team identified sclerostin, a protein previously associated only with bone metabolism, within triple-negative breast cancer cells, where it promotes tumour growth and metastasis. In response, they developed Apc101, an aptamer-based PROTAC capable of entering cancer cells to degrade intracellular sclerostin and effectively inhibit tumour growth in both cell-line-derived xenograft (CDX) and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models. Selected findings from this research have been published in the prestigious international journal Cell Reports Medicine.

Professor Zhang expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “This discovery overturns the conventional understanding of sclerostin. We are honoured to collaborate with leading partners, including Faculty of Medicine at The Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Breast Disease Specialist Hospital of Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, to forge a new path in combating triple-negative breast cancer.”

Demonstrating innovation through the synergy of Chinese and Western medicine, this project highlights the School’s ongoing commitment to excellence in translational medicine and drug discovery. We will endeavor to advance the clinical application of our research outcomes, striving to contribute to global public health.