Research Area

1.  To elucidate molecular mechanisms of cancer cell’s by-pass mechanisms associated with drug resistance.

Drug resistance occurs in the majority of targeted kinase inhibitor therapies in cancer. One mechanism by which tumor cells bypass kinase inhibitor treatment is through reprogramming of global post-translational modification (PTM : e.g. phosphorylation, acetylation, ubiquitination), which could provide additional or compensating survival signal. We are trying to understand system-wide changes in kinase signaling networks induced by kinase inhibitor drugs through assessing drug-induced global PTM or kinome reprogramming using mass spectrometry-based proteomics technique. We expect our work could provide further insights into drug resistance, furthermore novel drug combinations. 

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2.  To elucidate molecular mechanisms of cancer progression

Progression of cancer cells to more malignant form involves additional genetic mutations as well as deregulation of PTM and kinome expression. We are trying to elucidate molecular mechanisms of cancer progression through proteomics approach with a focus on cancer kinases.