Master Thesis: Targeted therapy on mucinous ovarian cancer
 

Location: Ebene 5Q, AKH; Translational Gynecology Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Vienna
Duration: 10-12 months, start as soon as possible
Contact: Prof. Dr. Dan Cacsire Castillo-Tong
Email: dan.cacsire-castillo@meduniwien.ac.at
Telephone: +43-1-40400-78330
Website: https://ccc.meduniwien.ac.at/gcu/forschung/forschungsgruppen/

Background:
Mucinous ovarian cancer (MOC) is a rare epithelial cancer and is not well investigated. Patients have poor prognosis due to the lack of specific treatment. Most of the MOCs harbor mutations in the KRAS gene. Different drugs have been developed to target the KRAS-related pathways.

Objectives:

• to test selected drugs on MOC
• to define the pathways interfered by the tested drugs
• to define the possible clinical use of the drugs

Techniques:
Experimental techniques include cell biology (cell culture, orgnoids culture, apoptosis assay, fluorescence-based assays to measure cell viability/death, live imaging assays), genetics (DNA/RNA extraction, Sanger sequencing, digital droplet PCR), molecular biology (RT-qPCR, Western blotting, RNA sequencing and data analyses, IHC, IF).

Qualification:
Master student in molecular biology, biomedical science or in other relevant fields; good basic knowledge of molecular biology; strong analytic capacity and commitment, as well as interest in science; web-lab experiences in cancer research or related fields;

Application:
Send examination record for Bachelor study and for Master study so far; a motivation letter; and CV to the email address above.

Selected relevant publications:

• Kreuzinger C, Decken IV, Wolf A, Gamperl M, Koller J, Karacs J, Pfaffinger S, Bartl T, Reinthaller A, Grimm C, Singer CF, Braicu EI, Cunnea P, Gourley C, Smeets D, Boeckx B, Lambrechts D, Perco P, Horvat R, Berns EMJJ, Castillo-Tong DC. Cancer Lett. 10;459:1-12, 2019. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2019.05.032.
• Kreuzinger C, Geroldinger A, Smeets D, Braicu EI, Sehouli J, Koller J, Wolf A, Darb-Esfahani S, Jöhrens K, Vergote I, Vanderstichele A, Boeckx B, Lambrechts D, Gabra H, Wisman GBA, Trillsch F, Heinze G, Horvat R, Polterauer S, Berns EMJJ, Theillet CG, Cacsire Castillo-Tong D. Clin Cancer Res. 2017 Oct 2. pii: clincanres.1159.2017. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-17-1159. [Epub ahead of print]