Toward an understanding of how YB-1 regulates drug resistance in glioblastoma multiforme through epigenetic regulation governed by BMI-1.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and aggressive form of brain cancers and is the second most common cancer in children only behind leukemia. Conventional therapy consists primarily of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, and while these approaches have slightly improved the length of patient survival, there remains no cure for this disease. With the emerging understanding of biology in the process of cancer development, identification of therapeutic targets are being elucidated that will allow more targeted and effective treatment of the disease. This approach is especially important in pediatric brain cancer where conventional therapies may result in damage to the brain causing long-term neurocognitive deficits. We have identified one such target, a protein called the Y-box binding protein (YB-1) that is expressed in adult and pediatric GBM. In those cancer cells it promotes tumor cell growth and also drug resistance making it an….TOBECONTINUED

Faculty Supervisor:

Sandra Dunn

Student:

Partner:

Hannah's Heroes Foundation;The Child and Family Research Institute at BCCH

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program: