GEnetic NEtworks as a tool for anti-CAncer Drug Development

Objective

Although several therapies target cellular pathways, current small molecules drug discovery is based on identification of inhibitors to single proteins, without knowledge of whether they are the most advantageous target. The objective of this proposal is to develop a novel method for drug discovery, combining phenotypic cell based screens with functional genetic networks to determine the molecular mechanisms of numerous small molecule inhibitors. This method will enable identification of numerous distinct inhibitors of a particular pathway, as well as providing their molecular mechanism.

Cancer cells harbour gene mutations that make them more reliant on other cellular pathways for survival. Such cellular pathways can be targeted to selectively kill the cancer cells using the concept of synthetic lethality. In this project we want to identify inhibitors of homologous recombination to target cancer using synthetic lethality.

To establish a functional genetic network for homologous recombination, we will first identify all recombination proteins using multiple genome-wide RNAi screens. Then the synthetic sick or lethal interaction map between all recombination proteins is determined by co-depletion of these. Such synthetic sick or lethal network will identify numerous putative targets for anti-cancer treatment. Importantly, using this network for chemical-genetic functional interactions will assist in determinating of the molecular mechanisms of inhibitors. Chemical-genetic networks based on synthetic sickness or lethality can potentially change future drug discovery methods as well as providing new mechanistic insights into the field of toxicology.

Field of science

• /natural sciences/biological sciences/biochemistry/biomolecules/proteins
• /medical and health sciences/clinical medicine/cancer

Programme(s)

• FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013)

Topic(s)

• ERC-AG-LS7 - ERC Advanced Grant - Diagnostic tools, therapies and public health

Call for proposal

ERC-2010-AdG_20100317
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

ERC-AG - ERC Advanced Grant

Host institution

KAROLINSKA INSTITUTET

Address

Nobels Vag 5
17177 Stockholm
Sweden

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

EU contribution

€ 1 927 049,20

Principal investigator

Ulf Thomas Edvard Helleday (Prof.)

Administrative Contact

Jill Blomstrand (Mrs.)

Beneficiaries (2)

KAROLINSKA INSTITUTET

Sweden

EU contribution

€ 1 927 049,20

Address

Nobels Vag 5
17177 Stockholm

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

Principal investigator

Ulf Thomas Edvard Helleday (Prof.)

Administrative Contact

Jill Blomstrand (Mrs.)

STOCKHOLMS UNIVERSITET

Participation ended

Sweden

EU contribution

€ 572 950,80

Address

Universitetsvagen 10
10691 Stockholm

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

Administrative Contact

Esther Edlundh-Rose (Dr.)