CRTP Trainees providing essential new knowledge to cancer research
MSc Student Elias Habib, Department of Pathology Dalhousie
Supported by a GIVETOLIVE CRTP Award, Elias is investigating whether the loss of a specific protein is related to cancers that become difficult to treat.
Cancer develops when the genetic material (DNA) in cells is altered. Regulation of the genetic information contained within DNA requires a protein terms PRP4K. This protein is highly conserved, found in almost every type of organism including humans, and is required for life. PRP4K regulates normal expression of information of genetic material and the partial loss of PRP4K is linked to aggressive tumours and poor treatment response to chemotherapy in both breast and ovarian cancers. “We hypothesize that partial loss of PRP4K changes the way cancer cells respond to treatment.”, explains Elias. “Our goal is to identify how the partial loss of PRP4K controls these cellular responses, which may provide insight into how cancer cells overcome chemotherapeutics and help to identify new treatment strategies.” Elias hopes to complete his Masters this summer and though currently has no firm plans beyond that, wants to stay involved in research or move into the healthcare sector.
PhD student Sabateeshan Mathavarajah, Department of Pathology Dalhousie
Saby Also supported by a GIVETOLIVE CRTP Award, Saby is exploring how cells protect themselves against damage that can result in cancer.A cell’s genetic material (DNA; also termed ‘the genome’) maintains its own integrity by a sophisticated system of both regulating and monitoring the physical structure of the genome. Remarkably, a significant amount of DNA within human genomes is made up of small pieces of DNA called ‘retroelements’ that can replicate themselves and then move to a new location. This movement can damage essential genetic information contained within the new location for these retroelements. A role of cellular protein called PML is to monitor and prevent retroelements from moving, thus protecting genome integrity. Loss of PML allows one type of retroelement, called L1, to move and in so doing damage DNA in the new location. “Through my research I hope to identify new and already-known roles of PML to uncover how these roles of PML contribute to the control of L1”, explains Saby. “Our ultimate goal is to identify the network of PML functions involved in controlling L1 and then be able to target these roles for new treatments and for predicting cancer progress.” Saby has accepted a postdoctoral fellowship position at Harvard Medical School, which he will start upon graduating later this year. At Harvard, Saby will continue working on cancer using fish to study Rhabdomyosarcoma.
These studies will provide essential new knowledge of how DNA is regulated and how altered regulation can lead to cancer.
“The GIVETOLIVE CRTP awards recognize and support two exceptional young scientists. Saby and Elias have bright futures ahead of them and their research will provide new avenues for future cancer cures”, says their supervisor Dr. Graham Dellaire. “I couldn’t be more proud to be their mentor and supervisor.”