Mechanism of cellular stress tolerance in cancer cells

We study the mechanism that cancer cells employ to cope with molecular stress, in particular the stress generated from DNA replication and metabolism. This work contributed to translate into breast cancer and lymphoma patients a new class of Hsp90 inhibitor in collaboration with Dr. G. Chiosis team from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. We also study the Hsp90-regulated proteome in cancer cells from cell cultures and patient specimens to design rational therapeutic combinations. We are also studying the mechanism by which HSF1 transcriptionally regulates the cellular stress response and how this could be inhibited using small molecules providing a new therapeutic target for lymphomas and solid tumors with HSF1 activation.