Aykut Üren, MD,
Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University
Recipient of the: $25,000 Marny S. Tobin Memorial Research Award
Ewing’s sarcoma presents a unique opportunity to develop tumor specific targeted therapy due to a pathognomonic chromosomal translocation. Proper function of EWS-FLI1, protein product of this chromosomal translocation, is required for tumor cell survival. We will develop a cell-based High Throughput Screening assay. We will generate Ewing’s cell-lines expressing two fluorescent proteins. GFP will be expressed from an EWS-FLI1 regulated promoter and RFP from an unrelated negative control promoter. In this dual color HTS assay, a small molecule library will be screened for inhibiting GFP but not RFP, which will provide lead compounds for novel Ewing’s sarcoma therapies.