Shelley Hooks, PhD
University of Georgia
A One-Two Punch: Dual Mechanisms for RGS inhibition of cell survival signals
Acquired chemoresistance, in which patients whose tumors initially respond to cisplatin ultimately relapse with drug-resistant disease, is a major factor in the low survival rate among ovarian cancer patients. To address this clinical problem, it is absolutely necessary to understand the molecular and genetic changes that drive the development of chemoresistance and allow ovarian cancer cells to survive in the presence of cisplatin. Dr. Hooks’ lab has shown that RGS proteins are suppressed in chemoresistance and control cell sensitivity to cisplatin. The goal of the project is to test the hypothesis that RGS proteins control cell survival by two complementary pathways. The long-term benefit of this work will be to guide efforts to reverse the amplification of ovarian cancer cell survival.