Rugang Zhang PhD
Professor Of Cancer Biology
Ovarian Cancer and Cellular Senescence
EPIGENETICS OF EPITHELIAL OVARIAN CANCER
A major discovery in recent cancer genome-wide sequencing is the identification of significant genetic changes in chromatin-modifying genes. However, despite great strides in identifying the various epigenetic enzymes/factors involved in cancer, the translational application of these findings in cancer intervention remains to be explored. The Zhang lab will pursue these issues in the coming years by focusing on the epigenetic SWItch/Sucrose Non-Fermentable (SWI/SNF) and Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) complexes as proof of principles in the context of ovarian cancer.
a. Mechanism-guided therapeutic strategies for genetic alterations that affect the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex in epithelial ovarian cancer (such as ARID1A mutation in clear cell and endometrioid subtypes of ovarian cancer, and CARM1 amplification/overexpression in high-grade serous ovarian cancer).
b. Epigenetic approaches to chemotherapy resistance and cancer stemness in epithelial ovarian cancer.
c. Epigenetic approaches to primer for and/or synergize with immunological therapy in epithelial ovarian cancer.
d. PARP inhibitors resistance mechanism and approaches to sensitizing BRCA-proficient ovarian cancer to PARP inhibitors.
EPIGENETIC AND METABOLIC BASIS OF CELLULAR SENESCENCE
Cellular senescence is a state of stable cell growth arrest that is accompanied by drastic molecular and phenotypic changes. Cellular senescence is a major contributor to tissue aging and plays a context-dependent role in tumor development. For example, cellular senescence is tumor suppressive and overcoming the senescence-associated cell growth arrest is a necessary step during cell transformation. In contrast to its tumor suppressive function, senescent cells can also promote cancer by acquiring a secretory phenotype and create a pro-tumorigenic microenvironment. The biological process of cellular senescence represents an ideal paradigm to examine the role of the DNA damage response, epigenetically determined chromatin structure, and metabolic reprogramming during tissue aging and cancer development.
a. Chromatin basis of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype.
b. Targeting senescence-associated metabolic vulnerability to develop cancer therapeutics.
c. Targeting senescence-associated immunological vulnerability to develop cancer therapeutics.