기초과학 자율운영 중점연구소

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주관: 기초과학연구소(자율운영 중점연구소지원사업)

일시: 2025년 6월 5일 목요일 17:00

장소: 원천관 242호

연사: 김은희 교수 (UNIST 생명과학과)

주제: Understanding and targeting cancer

Abstract

Understanding the regulation of cancer cell development and the functional impact of genetic alterations in cancers are key to developing improved treatments. 

In the first part, I will talk about spliceosomal gene mutations in cancer. Mutations affecting RNA splicing factors are the most common genetic alterations in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients and occur in a mutually exclusive manner. The basis for the mutual exclusivity of these mutations and how they contribute to MDS is not well understood. I will introduce our results that individual spliceosomal mutations have non-overlapping effects on splicing and are mutually exclusive due to both synthetic lethal interactions and convergent effects on hyperactivation of innate immune signaling.

For the second part, I will present what we are doing to offer a novel therapeutic strategy for safely treating cancer. The TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a promising anticancer drug candidate because it selectively binds to the proapoptotic death receptors, which are frequently overexpressed in a wide range of cancer cells, subsequently inducing strong apoptosis in these cells. However, the therapeutic benefit of TRAIL has not been clearly proven, mainly because of its poor pharmacokinetic characteristics and frequent resistance to its application caused by the activation of a survival signal via the EGF/epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)

signaling pathway. I will introduce our collaboration work showing the dual-ligand-displaying the AaLS/TRAIL/EGFRAfb protein nanoparticle could be used as an effective protein-based therapeutic for treating EGFR-positive cancers, which are difficult to manage using monotherapeutic approaches.