Targeting Mitochondrial Protein VDAC2 Could Enhance Liver Cancer Treatments

Liver cancer, particularly hepatocellular carcinoma, remains a formidable health challenge due to its aggressive nature and low five-year survival rate of around 15%. Recent research from Thomas Jefferson University highlights the potential of a mitochondrial protein called VDAC2 as a therapeutic target. The study, led by Dr. Gyorgy Hajnoczky, finds that VDAC2 plays a critical role in making liver cancer cells more prone to cell death, offering hope for more precise treatments.

Previously, Dr. Hajnoczky's team discovered that VDAC2 recruits BAK, a pivotal protein in mitochondria-dependent apoptosis. Their new findings show that liver cancer cells exhibit higher levels of VDAC2 compared to normal liver tissue, which makes these cancer cells more susceptible to treatments that activate BAK-dependent cell death pathways.

In preclinical experiments, combining two drugs targeting BAK resulted in significant shrinkage of liver tumors in mice, selectively eliminating cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue. This effect was absent in tumors lacking VDAC2, indicating that the protein is essential for the treatment's efficacy. Dr. Hajnoczky describes VDAC2 as a potential "Achilles heel" of liver cancer, suggesting that therapies aimed at this protein could offer targeted, less invasive options for patients.

While these findings are promising, they are still in early stages. Future research aims to better understand the role of VDAC2 in primary and metastatic liver cancers, paving the way for new therapeutic strategies. The hope is that targeting VDAC2 could lead to more effective and less harmful treatments for liver cancer patients.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-mitochondrial-protein-liver-cancer-treatment.html