Evaluation of the role of MxA and ISGylation in chemosensitivity in oesophageal cancer

Many oesophageal cancers develop resistance to the drugs currently used to treat this disease. This allows the cancer cells to survive and the cancer can come back again at variable times after the initial treatment. Research already performed by this group has identified genetic differences between cancer cells that respond well to treatment and those that do not. This project will examine how the genes involved can re-program cancers and influence their response to treatment. We have already identified a novel gene pathway that can dramatically improve how cancer cells respond to chemotherapy. Understanding these novel genes and how they regulate death and survival in cancer cells will enable us to develop more specific anti-cancer agents for the future. The overall aim of this project is to identify new ways of targeting drug-resistant oesophageal cancers, so that chemotherapeutic regimes can be improved and recurrent disease eliminated in cancer patients.

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Start year:
2018
End year:
2021
Principal Investigator:
Dr Sharon McKenna
PhD Scholar:
Robert Hayes
Institution:
CancerResearch@UCC
Grant funding:
BCR charity partner in the MRCG-HRB Joint-funding scheme
Cancer type:
Oesophageal
Linked Breakthrough Research Priorities: 
1, 3, 4, 5

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