Download Apoptosis and tumorigenesis

NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering
Research Project Write-up
Title of Project :
Name of Supervisor :
Contact Details:
Apoptosis and tumorigenesis
Reshma Taneja
Tel: 6516 3236
e-mail: [email protected]
Short Description
Killing of tumor cells by anticancer therapies is mediated by triggering apoptosis, an
intrinsic cell death program. Consequently, defects in apoptosis result in resistance of
cancers to common therapeutic approaches. Identification of regulators of apoptosis,
and understanding the molecular mechanisms by which resistant forms of cancer
escape apoptotic events, may provide novel opportunities for cancer drug
development. In response to a number of genotoxic agents that cause DNA damage,
cells undergo cell cycle arrest or apoptosis in a cell-type specific manner. However,
the cellular and molecular determinants of DNA damage response in tumors and
normal tissues have not been fully defined. The identification and characterization of
genes that play a role in regulating cell cycle arrest and apoptosis is thus critical to
understanding the molecular basis of tumorigenesis.
Our previous studies have demonstrated that mice lacking the transcription factor
Stra13 exhibit altered apoptosis in response DNA damaging agents. These mice
therefore provide an invaluable tool to further define the molecular mechanisms by
which Stra13 regulates cell cycle arrest and apoptosis and its role in tumorigenesis.