Role of PSIP1 in prostate cancer development and drug resistance

ended

Understanding the cancer-specific genetic alterations is fundamental to devising novel treatment modalities. This project aims at understanding the role of PSIP1, posterior homeotic domain-containing transcription factors (HOX TFs) and androgen receptor (AR) in transcriptional regulation of prostate cancer cells. These transcriptional regulators are integral to the normal cell homeostasis and are dysregulated in various cancers. Through the preliminary data and analysis, this proposal recognises an interlink between these three factors and the ability of this trio in mediating a cancer-specific transcriptional alteration through activation of cancer-promoting transcriptional enhancers. Using a powerful combination of genome editing, functional genomics and bioinformatics, this proposal aims to discover altered transcriptional programme and its impact on cancer progression and treatment resistance. This project combines the expertise of the researcher in cancer biology with the competences of the host in epigenetics and functional genomics. This project will impart the talented researcher with comprehensive research training in chromatin biology and functional cancer genomics at an elite research Institute, in order to increase his prospects to become an independent research leader. The researcher will also profit from postdoctoral training opportunities in transferable skills available at the host's institution. Completion of the research and training objectives will significantly shape the development of the researcher into an independent leader, assign him a firm place in the European research network