Company Profile

Molecular Discovery Systems Limited (“MDSystems”), launched in 2006 and spun off from BPH in 2010, is an associate of BPH. MDSystems has been working with the Molecular Cancer Research Group at the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research to validate HLS5 as a novel tumour suppressor gene, particularly for liver cancer.

The Molecular Cancer Research Group has developed a pre-clinical model of liver cancer where the expression of HLS5 is ablated i.e. it mimics, in part, patients that have low HLS5 (TRIM35) and develop liver cancer. Research conducted at the Perkins Institute has shown that HLS5 has significant tumour suppressor properties. The Perkins findings are supported by the two independent peer reviewed scientific publications, identifying a role for HLS5 in cancer, demonstrating that the loss of HLS5 expression may be a critical event in the development and progression of liver cancer. 

The publications — a collaboration between Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Centre and other Chinese Institutes, including Shanghai Cancer Institute, Liver Cancer Institute, Second Military Medical University and Qi Dong Liver Cancer Institute —focused on identifying the role of HLS5 in liver cancer. The first article demonstrated that HLS5 binds a key enzyme involved in the production of energy for cancer cells (Pyruvate Kinase isoform M2 (PKM2)). They showed that HLS5 binds PKM2 to form a complex which inhibits the activation of PKM2. The formation of this HLS5/PKM2 complex ultimately limits the cancer cell’s means of energy production and its ability to proliferate. In the second publication the expression levels of HLS5 and PKM2 were assessed for potential use as a prognostic marker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) – (liver cancer) .The study analysed liver samples of 688 patients who had HCC. The study found that patients who were positive for PKM2 expression and negative for HLS5 expression had poorer overall survival and shorter time to recurrence. Taken together, the findings of both papers further support the research into HLS5 by MDS and the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research.