Completed Projects:
SFI-HRB-Wellcome Trust SEED Award: “Determining the mechanism of action of a novel histone deacetylase 6 specific inhibitor that kills chemoresistant breast cancer”
The majority of cytotoxic agents used to treat patients kill tumour cells via the mitochondrial pathway of cell death. Previously, the applicant found that primary tumours that are chemoresistant in vivo usually contain mitochondria that are resistant to apoptotic signalling. Therefore, we performed a small molecule screen to identify new therapeutic small molecules that can preferentially kill cancer cells independent of mitochondrial apoptosis. We identified a specific HDAC6 inhibitor and aim to utilize the tool compound to identify novel substrates of HDAC6.
L’Oréal–UNESCO UK & Ireland For Women In Science Award