Targeting the oxidative stress response of non-small cell lung cancers (A06)

• Subject Area: Cell Biology ; Hematology, Oncology
• Term: since 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 514894665

Approximately one-third of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) carry mutations that result in NRF2 activation, a key transcriptional regulator of the cellular antioxidant response. Aberrant NRF2 activity drives cancer progression, metastasis, and therapy resistance in NSCLC. However, no specific NRF2 inhibitors are currently available for targeted treatments. We hypothesize that targeting the oxidative stress response in NSCLC via deubiquitylases (DUBs) that control NRF2 activation is a promising strategy. Our goal is to determine the role of OTUD5 and UCHL1 DUBs in NRF2 regulation and to determine whether inhibition of these DUBs could counteract aberrant NRF2 activity in NSCLC.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 387: Functionalizing the Ubiquitin System against Cancer - UbiQancer
• Applicant Institution: Technische Universität München (TUM)
• Project Head: Dr. Anja Bremm