Start of funding 01.01.2009

Analysis of HDACi-mediated apoptotic and angiostatic pathways in solid human tumors

PD Dr. med. Matthias Ocker
Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg
Medizinische Klinik I

Dr. Richard S. Finn
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center



Pharmacologic inhibition of protein and histone deacetylases is a novel therapeutic approach in oncology. In addition to a direct influence on transcriptional activity by modifying histone proteins and nuclear transcription factors, HDACi can influence a variety of other cellular processes that regulate tumor cell survival. These processes are not fully understood or characterized yet. In this project, novel cellular processes will be investigated that are associated with cell death (apoptosis) and tumor related neovascularisation (angiogenesis). The detailed knowledge of these pathways (e.g. the unfolded protein response, endoplasmic reticulum stress or miRNA pathways) is crucial to the further clinical development of this new class of compounds in human tumor therapy.