9/14 Activation of nucleolar DNA damage response as a novel therapeutic strategy for ovarian cancer

September 13, 2018

Events and Seminars

 

Date

Friday, September 14th, 2018, 16:00-17:00 

Venue Biken Hall, 1st floor, Main Building, RIMD
Speaker

Dr. Elaine Sanij

Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne, Australia

Title

Activation of nucleolar DNA damage response as a novel therapeutic strategy for ovarian cancer

Abstract

High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) accounts for the majority of ovarian cancer and has dismal prognosis. PARP inhibitors (PARPi) have revolutionized the management of the ~50% of patients with homologous recombination (HR) DNA repair-deficient HGSOC. However, acquired resistance to PARPi is a major challenge in the clinic.

We developed the first-in-class drug CX-5461 that inhibits RNA polymerase I transcription of ribosomal RNA genes, selectively kills cancer cells and is currently in Phase I trials in patients with haematological (Peter Mac) and solid cancers (Canada). Our studies have identified cancer cells’ sensitivity to CX-5461 to be driven by oncogenic pathways requiring elevated synthesis of ribosomes and/or alterations in DNA damage response. CX-5461 exhibits substantial efficacy in HR- deficient PARPi-sensitive and PARPi-resistant HGSOC-PDXs in vivo. We propose that CX-5461 will have single agent efficacy in a subset of HGSOC, thus we are planning a phase I/II trial in relapsed ovarian cancer in 2019.

*The seminar will be conducted in English.
 

Contact

Prof. Eiji Hara (Dept. Molecular Microbiology, RIMD) (Ex.4260)

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