Therapeutic gene silencing of <i>CKAP5</i> leads to lethality in genetically unstable cancer cells

Abstract

The potential of microtubule-associated protein targets for cancer therapeutics remains largely unexplored due to the lack of target-specific agents. Here, we explored the therapeutic potential of targeting cytoskeleton-associated protein 5 (CKAP5), an important microtubule-associated protein, with <i>CKAP5</i>-targeting siRNAs encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). Our screening of 20 solid cancer cell lines demonstrated selective vulnerability of genetically unstable cancer cell lines in response to <i>CKAP5</i> silencing. We identified a highly responsive chemo-resistant ovarian cancer cell line, in which <i>CKAP5</i> silencing led to significant loss in EB1 dynamics during mitosis. Last, we demonstrated the therapeutic potential in an in vivo ovarian cancer model, showing 80% survival rate of si<i>CKAP5</i> LNPs-treated animals. Together, our results highlight the importance of CKAP5 as a therapeutic target for genetically unstable ovarian cancer and warrants further investigation into its mechanistic aspects.