Direct Molecular Sensitization of BAX to Lower the Apoptotic Threshold in Chemo Resistant Pediatric Leukemia

Institution: 

McMaster University

Researcher(s): 

Gheeda Mourtada

Grant Type: 

POST Program Grants

Year Awarded: 

2018

Type of Childhood Cancer: 

Leukemia

Background
The purpose of this project is to test an entirely new strategy for reactivating cell death in pediatric leukemias that are otherwise resistant to chemotherapy treatment. The Walensky laboratory has recently discovered a new class of molecules that directly bind to a unique interaction site on BAX, which is an essential "killer" protein of the cell, enhancing its conformational activation in response to cell stress. 

Project Goal
Here, we propose to test these BAX-sensitizing molecules as single agents and in combination with other anti-tumor drugs to restore the cell death pathway in chemoresistant pediatric leukemias.

Mentored by Dr. Loren Walensky 
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA