Redox Balance Regulates Stemness-Associated Gene Transcription in Ovarian Cancer

Project summary

Characterizing key regulatory factors in ovarian cancer stem cells will lead to improved understanding of key steps in cancer initiation and finding new treatments for deadly ovarian cancer. Our preliminary studies indicate that enhanced oxidative defense is required for maintaining stemness of ovarian cancer cells. A DNA organization regulator, the histone linker protein H1.0, was upregulated in response to oxidative stress status in cancer stem cells. This proposal will discover the functions of H1.0 in regulating stemness in ovarian cancer, with the goal of discovering novel mechanisms involved in resistance to chemotherapy.

This grant was made possible in part by a generous donation from the estate of Shirley Johnson.