Insight into DNA replication stress in tumor cells for the development of new therapeutic possibilities and the acquisition of targets for therapy resistance

Project summary

Radiation and chemotherapy cause DNA damage and are a known treatment for various forms of cancer. The goal of the treatment is to cause so much DNA damage that cancer cells die. Unfortunately, some cancers are insensitive to these types of therapy: the treated cancer cells repair the DNA damage using alternative methods rendering the cells insensitive to therapy. This research investigates alternative repair methods of cancer cells under stress conditions (ie radiation, chemotherapy) with as purpose to characterize new possible targets for new, more effective therapies under DNA damage resistant conditions.

This research investigates which genes & proteins help in counterfeiting the effectiveness of radiation and chemotherapy, in particular via new and alternative pathways. Characterizing their precise role is of great importance to develop new therapies.