Anne Noonan, MB BCh BAO, MSc, MRCPINational Cancer Institute2012 Gilman Family Scholar Proteomic biomarker development for optimal sequencing of doxetaxel & SMACmimetic The drug TL32711 can stimulate ovarian cancer cell death by decreasing proteins that inhibit cell death and decreasing signaling through the NFkB signalling pathway that is known to be overactive in ovarian cancer. […]
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Brigitte Thériault, PhDOntario Cancer Institute Modulation of KIF14 overexpression in ovarian cancer Dr. Thériault’s lab had previously discovered that the gene KIF14 is present in high amounts in the majority of ovarian cancers, and that patients with high KIF14 have much worse survival than patients with low KIF14. KIF14 is normally found in cells that […]
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Christina Gewinner, PhDUniversity College London 2012 Skacel Family Scholar Identification of novel drug targets for INPP4B-deficient ovarian tumours Dr. Gewinner’s lab has previously identified a gene called inositol polyphosphate 4-phosphatase type II (INPP4B) which no longer functions in approximately 40% of ovarian tumors. Patients with such tumors have poor survival rates. She has demonstrated that INPP4B […]
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Jeremy Stark, PhDBeckman Research Institute of the City of Hope Homology-Directed Repair Deficiency in Ovarian Cancer Cancer cells that are able to perform homology-directed repair (HDR) can be resistant to PARP inhibitor therapeutics, which are purposefully designed to cause DNA damage. Many ovarian cancers apparently lack the HDR pathway, and hence are likely to be […]
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Meera Nanjundan, PhDUniversity of South Florida Role of Autophagy in the Transition from Endometriosis to Ovarian Cancers Dr. Nanjundan proposes that endometriosis, an inflammatory gynecological disease, is a “precursor lesion” leading to the development of endometrioid/clear cell ovarian cancers. Although less frequent relative to serous ovarian cancers, often the prognosis is worse. This project will […]
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Fang-Tsyr Lin, MD, PhDBaylor College of Medicine RIP6 Regulates p27KIP1 to Promote Ovarian Tumorigenesis The CDK inhibitor p27KIP1 is traditionally viewed as a tumor suppressor by inhibiting cell cycle progression. However, the cytosolic mislocalized p27KIP1 can induce ovarian cancer cell invasion. Dr. Lin has shown that these opposing effects are regulated through the interaction of […]
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Ilona Kryczek, PhDUniversity of Michigan Human myeloid suppressor cells maintain ovarian cancer stemness Stem-like cancer cells are thought to play a key role in both chemoresistance and relapse, both of which can occur following treatment of advanced ovarian cancer. Stem-like cancer cells are maintained and supported by niches enriched in immune cells. Dr. Kryczek’s project […]
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Lavakumar Karyampudi, PhDMayo Clinic PD1 regulated dendritic cells: A target for ovarian cancer immunotherapy Immunosuppression that prevails in ovarian tumor microenvironment is the main reason for the recurrence of disease in ovarian cancer patients. Blockade of suppressor cells and/or immune inhibitory networks during vaccination has great chance at reducing recurrence among patients. PD-1/B7-H1 axis is […]
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Shelley Hooks, PhDUniversity 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 […]
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Heidi Gray, MDUniversity of Washington Behavioral and neural indices of cognitive rehabilitation in ovarian cancer Millions of ovarian cancer survivors live with residual symptoms of impaired thinking and impaired memory severe enough to interfere with basic activities of daily living and work. However, very little is known about how to treat problems in cognition. Pharmacologic […]
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