PA
26/14
The
University of Nottingham is to lead a research project looking at developing
new drugs to target both drug resistant and BRCA 1 and 2 gene mutation ovarian
cancer.
The
research, funded by the national charity, Target Ovarian Cancer, is part of a
high profile collaboration with the National Institutes of Health, USA, and the
University of Newcastle. Such drugs could have the potential to help save
countless lives.
The
project is led by Dr Srinivasan Madhusudan in the School of Medicine. He said:
“Resistance to chemotherapy is a major problem in ovarian cancer. This research
will allow the investigation of FEN1, a key DNA repair protein, for the first
time in ovarian cancer. If successful the project will have the potential to
benefit very many ovarian cancer patients who suffer from platinum resistance.
If we are able to demonstrate that FEN1 inhibitors can overcome platinum
resistance and can also selectively target BRCA deficient ovarian cancer cell
lines, we may be able to develop a new treatment strategy for ovarian cancer.
This has the potential to improve survival in patients with advanced ovarian
cancer.”
Translating research into new treatments
Seven
thousand women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year in the UK, and 4,300
women lose their lives to the disease. With no new, life-extending drugs
approved for ovarian cancer in over 20 years, Target Ovarian Cancer is
committed to funding high quality research and to ensuring that the translation
of promising research into new treatments is not hindered by poor participation
and unequal access to clinical trials.
Annwen
Jones, Target Ovarian Cancer’s Chief Executive said: “We are optimistic that Dr
Madhusudan’s research project will help advance the understanding of drug resistant
and BRCA1 and 2 gene mutation ovarian cancers. We’re committed to supporting
the development of much needed new treatments, and believe that Dr Madhusudan’s
project has real potential to be of significant benefit to women with ovarian
cancer and look forward to seeing how it develops.”
— Ends —
Our academics can now be interviewed for broadcast via our new Globelynx fixed camera facility at the University. For further information please contact a member of the Communications team on +44 (0)115 951 5798, email mediahub@nottingham.ac.uk or see the Globelynx website for how to register for this service.
For up to the minute media alerts follow us on Twitter
Notes to editors: The University of Nottinghamhas 43,000 students and is ‘the nearest Britain has to a truly global university, with campuses in China and Malaysia modelled on a headquarters that is among the most attractive in Britain’ (Times Good University Guide 2014). It is also the most popular university among graduate employers, the world’s greenest university, and winner of the Times Higher Education Award for ‘Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Development’. It is ranked in the World's Top 75 universities by the QS World University Rankings.
Impact: The Nottingham Campaign, its biggest-ever fundraising campaign, is delivering the University’s vision to change lives, tackle global issues and shape the future. More news…