Research Projects

Breast cancer is the leading cancer globally, affecting 2,261,419 individuals in 2020. Radiotherapy is used in 50-70% of cases, but resistance to radiotherapy is a primary cause of treatment failure. PsMD9, a proteasome assembly chaperone protein, has been linked to radio-resistance and recurrence in breast and cervical cancer patients. Knockdown of PsMD9 in the MCF7 breast cancer cell line makes it sensitive to therapeutic radiation. However, no approved radio sensitizer has been obtained by this approach. Recent reports suggest that proteasomes function in a nuanced manner, with adaptability contributing to acquired resistance. Non-catalytic non-core subunits, such as PsMD9, can have a deeper regulatory or sensing role, such as regulating the unfolded protein response. This project aims to further understand PsMD9 biology and develop strategies to target this resistance in breast cancer.