University of California, San Diego
$100,000 Irving Feintech Family Foundation Career Development Grant
Research Title:
Dual PI3K and BRD4 Inhibition as a Novel Therapeutic Strategy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Liver cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death worldwide, but the sole FDA-approved drug for liver cancer prolongs life for only 2-3 months and has significant side effects. While most anti-cancer drugs have a single target, we are investigating a novel drug, SF1126, that simultaneously targets two proteins (PI3K and BRD4) that are overactive in liver cancer, and our experiments demonstrate that it is efficacious and well tolerated. We are studying the mechanism whereby SF1126 kills liver cancer cells and are actively pursuing the use of dual PI3K/BRD4 inhibitors in clinical trials in liver cancer patients.
Sponsor: Donald L. Durden, MD, PhD