Abstract 4952: Functional characterization of microRNAs associated with the response to cisplatin of ovarian cancer cells

Tumor cells are often characterized by a rapid cell division rate and defects in their DNA damage response, which is exploited in the clinic by the use of DNA damaging anticancer agents. Platinum-based chemotherapy (e.g. cisplatin) is used for the treatment of many different cancers including ovarian cancer. Unfortunately, the success of chemotherapy is hampered by the development of drug resistance, and most ovarian tumors eventually become refractory to multiple drugs. The molecular and cellular processes that lead to therapy resistance have been extensively studied at the transcriptional and posttranslational level. Another level of gene regulation is exerted by the recently discovered microRNAs, small non-coding RNAs that interfere with the expression of protein-coding genes. The essential role microRNAs play in the cellular response to genotoxic agents is only just being elucidated. In this project we aim to identify and functionally characterize microRNAs that alter the sensitivity to cisplatin in ovarian cancer cells.

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