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RESEARCH Chemotherapy remains the principal treatment strategy for different types of cancer. However, cellular multidrug resistance (MDR) prevents efficient killing of the cancer cells, leading to chemotherapeutic treatment failure. Thus, MDR is one of the major obstacles to the successful chemotherapeutic treatment of cancer patients. MDR phenomenon is known as the resistance of tumor cells to structurally and functionally different cytotoxic or cytostatic anticancer agents. Over-expression of anti-apoptotic factors, under-expression of pro-apoptotic factors, ATP-binding cassette transporters which decrease intracellular drug concentrations to sublethal levels, increase in amount of drug target, changes in the structure of target and aberrant ceramide metabolism confers MDR. The research interests of my laboratory are; Finding responsible resistance mechanisms in cancer chemotherapy. To this aim, we generate novel forms of resistant cancer cell lines as model systems and examine the differences between parental sensitive cells and resistant cells. Increasing the sensitivity of resistant cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents. Application of siRNAs that target
genes triggering resistance, overexpression of the genes inducing
apoptosis or co-application of chemotherapeutic agents with specific chemical inhibitors that prevent the function of the genes and/or proteins leading
to chemoresistance. Investigating the involvement of ceramides and their metabolic
products in drug induced cell death and resistance
both in model cell lines and cancer
patients. Examining apoptotic signalling pathways in drug resistant cell lines and
patient samples. Determining the unidentified signalling pathways induced and/or inhibited
by the chemical agents. Applications of stem cells for regeneration
of damaged tissues and organs. Understanding
the efficiency of chemotherapeutics in patients prior to chemotherapy
is crucial for clinical success of chemotherapy. This may lead to
development of personalized
chemotherapy strategies to overcome the
drug resistance |
Last Time Updated in 11/11/2011 by Dr Yusuf BARAN