Grant Holder
Dr Paul D Harkin

Researcher
Dr Jennifer Quinn

Completed project
Belfast - Northern Ireland

Institute
Queen's University, Belfast

Amount Awarded
£152,275.00

Duration
36 months

Type of Award
Project grant

Title

Define the mechanistic basis of BRCA1 induced mitotic arrest in response to paclitaxel

Synopsis

Dr Paul Harkin and Dr Jennifer Quinn aim to determine how the BRCA1 gene works in combination with other molecules in the cell which to affect the way the breast cancer drug Taxol functions.

Aims & Goals

Dr Paul Harkin and Dr Jennifer Quinn aim to determine how the BRCA1 gene works in combination with other molecules in the cell which to affect the way the breast cancer drug Taxol functions.

Updates

Dr Paul Harkin and Dr Jennifer Quinn at Queens University in Belfast have found that the breast cancer causing defective BRCA1 gene plays an important role in determining the effectiveness of the drug Taxol in killing breast cancer cells. Essentially, if BRCA1 is normal then Taxol is effective at killing tumour cells, however, when BRCA1 is defective (in breast cancer) then this drug does not work. Scientists are certain that this is due to BRCA1 working in combination with other molecules thus affecting the way the drug functions. Paul and Jennifer will continue their studies to discover how BRCA1 does this. This research will allow clinicians in the future to see which breast cancer patients will respond to this treatment.

Publications

Title The role of of BRCA1 in the cellular response to chemotherapy
Year 2004
Authors Kennedy RD, Quinn JE, Mullan PB, Johnston PG, Harkin DP.

Presentations

Title BRCA1 is a differential modulator of chemotherapy induced apoptosis.
Year 2003
Authors Quinn JE and Harkin DP
Title BRCA1 is a differential modulator of chemotherapy induced apoptosis
Year 2004
Authors Dr Jennifer Quinn
Title BRCA1 and GADD45 mediated G2/M cell cycle arrest in response to antimicrotubule agents
Year 2004
Authors Quinn JE and Harkin DP
Title BRCA1 and GADD45 mediated G2/M cell cycle arrest in response to antimicrotubule agents
Year 2004
Authors Quinn JE and Harkin DP

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