Data Sheet | April 27, 2026
SurfaceSeek™: Identify druggable tumor cell surface proteins
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Sapient’s SurfaceSeek is the premier solution for tumor cell surface proteomics in human tumors, enabling direct measurement of proteins that are truly accessible on the tumor cell surface for confident identification of druggable targets for ADC, T-cell engager, and radioligand therapies.
As oncology R&D continues to innovate cancer therapeutic modalities that can engage an increasingly diverse set of cell surface proteins, drug success is now determined not only by the drug platform itself but also by the biological quality of the target it engages. For surface protein targets, several critical criteria must be satisfied, yet these essential properties are rarely captured in human tumors by conventional discovery approaches.
We developed SurfaceSeek to address these needs by directly quantifying the druggable tumor cell surface proteome using a mass spectrometry-based workflow.
What tumor cell surface protein dimensions can be characterized via SurfaceSeek?
Historically, oncology targets have often been advanced based on the question, “Is the protein expressed?” SurfaceSeek reframes target discovery from qualitative expression analysis to quantitative characterization, aligning target selection with the mechanistic requirements of modern cancer therapeutics. The workflow profiles:
- Target accessibility: presence on the extracellular surface
- Target density: abundance to support therapeutic engagement
- Tumor selectivity: differential expression relative to critical normal tissues
- Proteoform & epitope relevance: structural compatibility with antibody binding
- Target turnover and internalization: optimization for therapeutic modality
Importantly, SurfaceSeek can be applied in fresh-frozen and FFPE human tumor samples.
How can I be confident the proteins identified are truly surface-accessible?
SurfaceSeek combines selective enrichment with high-resolution mass spectrometry to map the tumor cell surface proteome. As membrane proteins are trafficked through the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus, they undergo N-linked glycosylation as part of maturation. Mature proteins that reach the extracellular surface contain fully processed N-linked glycans, often including terminal sialic acid residues.
SurfaceSeek selectively enriches proteins bearing these charged N-linked glycans, enabling preferential identification of proteins that have completed trafficking and are exposed on the cell surface. It further incorporates extracellular protein- and SILAC-based labeling strategies in cellular systems to validate cell membrane localization and protein turnover / internalization kinetics – transforming cell membrane protein measurements into dynamic biological insight.
Download the white sheet to explore the innovations that enable SurfaceSeek to map the druggable tumor cell surface proteome with unmatched depth and precision.
What development questions can I answer with SurfaceSeek for tumor cell surface proteomics?
Successful target development requires understanding surface accessibility, abundance, structural form, and tissue distribution. SurfaceSeek generates quantitative biological data that informs critical decisions during target discovery and validation, including:
| Development Question | SurfaceSeek Insight |
|---|---|
| Is the protein truly accessible on the tumor surface? | Detection of mature extracellular proteins |
| Which proteoforms contain therapeutically relevant epitopes? | Peptide-level isoform and proteoform resolution |
| Is the target tumor-selective? | Tumor vs. normal tissue expression comparison |
| Is the target compatible with a specific modality? | Surface abundance and trafficking insights |
| Why has a clinically tested target shown inconsistent activity across patients? | Assay tumor cell surface proteins directly in human tumor samples |
SurfaceSeek is offered as a standalone workflow or within Sapient’s broader Tumor Protein Mapping Platform which also includes SignalingSeek™ to measure signaling pathway activation, ImmuneSeek™ to measure functionally active tumor immune cells and the immune pathways that are driving therapeutic response or suppression, and ResistanceSeek™ to map resistance biology – directly in fresh-frozen and FFPE human tumors.
Optimize target identification & validation for your surface-targeted therapeutics – get started today
Whether you are developing ADCs, T-cell engagers, radioligand therapies or other cell surface-directed modalities, Sapient’s SurfaceSeek can deliver your program a unique advantage with high-confidence identification of viable, robust cell surface protein targets.
Use the form to request the workflow or provide more information about your study. You can also email discover@sapient.bio to set up a time to talk about your needs.
Get the Resource
Seek Products - Request
Request a Seek study using the form.
"*" indicates required fields