Projects
Structural, molecular, and cellular biology of PKD2 allosteric modulators as novel therapeutics for cancer KU Leuven
Recently, we applied computer aided drug design to develop
allosteric, isoenzyme specific inhibitors of Protein Kinase D2 (PKD2).
We have now validated our compounds as truly PKD2 isoenzyme
specific, with promising properties against pancreatic cancer,
glioblastoma and multiple myeloma (cancers of high unmet medical
need). While we have designed the compounds to bind a specific
location in PKD2, the crystal ...
Role of hydroxymethylation as an epigenetic mark in prostate cancer biology KU Leuven
Because of the low recurrence rates of genomic mutations in prostate cancer, epigenetics is again at the forefront of our efforts to understand the etiology of this disease. Hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) is a new epigenetic mark for which little data exists in prostate cancer. During whole exome sequencing of high risk prostate cancer, we discovered mutations in TET1, which is one of three enzymes responsible for the hydroxylation of ...
Long non-coding RNAs as novel players in cancer biology Ghent University
Several studies provided evidence that lncRNAs influence the cancer phenotype and are important in cancer cell survival. The purpose of my PhD is to identify novel lineage survival oncogenic lncRNAs that may serve as cancer specific therapeutic targets and to increase our knowledge on how these lncRNAs mechanistically affect cancer hallmarks.
De-convolution of tumour biology in the post-genomic era: focus on pancreatic cancer Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Exploring the biology and application of systemically circulating bacterial extracellular vesicles in cancer patients. Ghent University
Epidemiological studies in humans and experiments in mouse models have shown that gut microbiota regulate cancer onset, progression and therapy response but the precise mechanisms remain unknown. Recent breakthrough research from my lab discovered that bacterial extracellular vesicles (BEV), membrane-enclosed communicative particles containing proteins, nucleotides, lipids and metabolites, are present in the systemic circulation of cancer ...
Elucidating causative genes and pathogenetic mechanisms in cancer: a systems biology approach. KU Leuven
Pancreatic cancer: identifying key drivers and drug testing in a clinically relevant model, based on tumor biology KU Leuven
The current project aims to unravel in both models the key drivers for aggressive pancreatic cancer. In addition, we will focus on repurposing of drugs selected
against complementary pathways and use the PDTX model for testing of drug combinations in a panel of tumors from different patients. This protocol should enable a rapid clinical translation to personalized therapy options in this devastating cancer.
ROBO2 as a tumor suppressor in pancreas and lung: biology and actionability for therapy Vrije Universiteit Brussel
The biology of tumor-derived extracellular RNA in liquid biopsies Ghent University
The discovery that cancer cells actively and passively release their content into the blood stream has opened enormous opportunities for characterizing cancer cells without the need for surgery to access tumor tissue. Instead, a simple drop of blood is sufficient to detect and characterize cancer cells inside a patient’s body. The use of circulating DNA molecules has spurred this field, but the study of circulating RNA molecules also seems ...