Project title: The mechanistic underpinnings of pancreatic NETs
Guillermina Lozano, PhD MD Anderson Cancer Center
- Status: Completed
- Year(s): 2016
- Grant Type: Investigator
- Research Type: Clinical
- Primary Tumor Site: Pancreas
- Area of Inquiry: Models
General Description
The objective of this project is to generate and characterize mouse models to better understand pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors and the cooperating events that contribute to tumor development. A faithful animal model will be invaluable for identifying novel vulnerabilities and therapeutic targets for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Dr. Lozano’s laboratory has extensive experience in generating mouse models to study the effects of specific mutations on tumor development. Previous NETRF-funded researchers discovered mutations in the DAXX and ATRX genes in tumors from patients with non-functioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Despite these promising findings, the precise role of ATRX and DAXX in neuroendocrine tumor development is yet to be understood and treatments exploiting these findings have yet to be developed. Furthermore, researchers do not have the research tools they need to develop potential new therapies for patients exploiting these mutations.
Publication
Wasylishen AR, Estrella JS, Pant V, Chau GP, Lozano G. Daxx Functions Are p53-Independent In Vivo. Mol Cancer Res. 2018 Oct;16(10):1523-1529. doi: 10.1158/1541-7786.MCR-18-0281. Epub 2018 Jun 14.
Additional Details
- State: Texas
- Grant Duration: 2 years
- Awards: Petersen Investigator Award
DISCLAIMER
NETRF funds laboratory research to understand the development of neuroendocrine tumors and translational research to explore new concepts in treatment. Research grant descriptions and research updates from NETRF are not intended to serve as medical advice. It can take years for research discoveries to be fully validated and approved for patient care. Always consult your health care providers about your treatment options.