Dalibor Blazek, PhD
Masaryk University (Czech Republic)
The Roles of Cdk12 in Ovarian Tumorigenesis
Recent comprehensive genomic analyses of patient samples have revealed the virtually unstudied cyclin-dependent kinase 12 (Cdk12) as a novel player in ovarian tumorigenesis. Dr. Blazek has already determined that Cdk12 maintains genome stability via the transcriptional regulation of key DNA-damage response genes, including BRCA1, ATR, and FANCI, identifying this kinase as a potential tumor suppressor. However, the precise molecular mechanisms leading to Cdk12-dependent ovarian tumorigenesis are unknown. The goal of this project is to attain an initial molecular understanding of these deregulations, which could eventually lead to the development of novel therapeutic approaches for ovarian cancer.