Speaker: Stefani Thomas, University of Minnesota

Topic: Beyond the BRCA genes: A proteome-centric view of high-grade serous ovarian cancer

Date: Monday, April 19th, 2021

Time: 2:00 PM Presentation

Location: Webinar – see emails on April 9 and 15 for invite link. Join the mailing list

Abstract: The mutational status of a solid tumor can predict the therapeutic efficacy of a specific drug in a molecularly defined subset of patients. Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) have emerged as a novel class of drugs to treat advanced ovarian cancer with mutations in BRCA1/2 genes. Unfortunately, there is considerable inter-patient heterogeneity in BRCA1/2–based determinations of PARPi treatment sensitivity. Determining proteome-level mechanisms of PARPi sensitivity could enhance our ability to select the ovarian cancer patient population that would benefit the most from PARPi therapy, consequently improving survival and overall treatment response. Our laboratory is applying mass spectrometry-based proteomics to identify protein signatures of PARPi sensitivity. This presentation will provide an overview of the experimental models and analytical approaches that we are utilizing toward a long-term goal of identifying prognostic protein biomarkers of PARPi sensitivity in patients with high-grade serous ovarian cancer.