Preventing the damaging effects of cancer chemotherapy and radiation treatment on human endothelial cells -targeting the JNK pathway (PhD studentship)

Complete

01/11/2018

Cancer

Scotland

Aetiology

Awarded amount: £79,204

Grant scheme: Scotland

Institution: University of Strathclyde

Principle Investigator: Prof Robin Plevin

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The aim of this project was to establish the mechanism by which xrays and anticancer drugs cause damage to endothelial cells, the cells that line blood vessels.

Damage to these cells can ultimately lead to cardiovascular problems, including heart attacks. The team hypothesised that an enzyme, JNK, found inside the endothelial cells was potentially responsible for mediating the cell death caused by the anti cancer drugs.

This project therefore focused on whether inhibiting JNK could prevent the cells from dying. A range of approaches, including genetic editing, were attempted to inhibit the JNK were unsuccessful.

However, the use of an adenovirus as a carrier was successful in helping the endothelial cells to better tolerate the anti cancer drugs. This was not a fully successful strategy but it does represent an improvement. This data acts as a proof of concept for future projects in which the concept can be explored further.

This project was heavily impacted by the pandemic and there are some delays for publications/conferences however the team does intend to make future grant applications for the development of this work.