Research: RNA binding proteins (RBPs) regulate diverse cellular processes including transcription, translation, and regulation of gene expression, and are frequently dysregulated in cancers. Through an unbiased genetic screen aimed at identifying cancer-specific RBP dependencies, we recently identified a specific requirement for RBM39 in malignant myeloid cancers and that cancers bearing RNA splicing factor mutations as being particularly sensitive to the anti-cancer sulfonamides. RBM39 is an RBP that functions in RNA splicing and recently, a class of clinical-grade ?anti-cancer sulfonamide? compounds were demonstrated to degrade RBM39 protein by co-opting the Ddb1/CUL4 ubiquitin-ligase complex as their mechanism of action. Thus, the primary goal of this project is to assess differential and tissue-specific requirements for RBM39 in normal hematopoiesis versus myeloid malignancies, and to assess requirements for RBM39 for leukemia initiation and maintenance. This proposal will utilize a novel conditional knockout (cKO) mouse for Rbm39 and several associated newly developed in vitro and in vivo murine models to pursue this goal. We expect these investigations to further our understanding of the role of RBM39 in normal physiology and cancer as well as provide new therapeutic insights into the on- and off-target toxicities of the anti-cancer sulfonamides. These goals are particularly timely given that several of these molecules have already proven excellent safety in multiple phase I/II trials and are now ripe for therapeutic testing in a patient population most likely to benefit from RBM39 degradation. Candidate: Dr. Sydney X. Lu is a graduating hematology & medical oncology fellow in the Department of Medicine at MSKCC.
He aims to become an independent, tenure- track physician-scientist investigating the molecular pathogenesis of hematological malignancies through a combination of genetics, functional genomics, and murine modeling. Dr.Lu has outlined a five-year period of mentored training to strengthen his skills in functional genomics and disease modeling. This training period will be carried out under the mentorship of Dr. Omar Abdel-Wahab, a leader in the functional genomics of hematopoietic malignancies. Dr. Lu has also assembled an advisory committee composed of Drs. Ross Levine, Martin Tallman, Michael Kharas, and Christine Mayr who will help guide his training and research. Environment: MSKCC is the world's oldest and largest private cancer center, devoting more than 130 years to exceptional patient care, innovative research, and outstanding educational programs. MSKCC exposes trainees to an exceptionally robust academic research environment with a strong commitment and track record of successfully supporting junior faculty who are seeking careers as independent physician-scientists.
A class of drugs called the `anti-cancer sulfonamides' were recently discovered to work by targeting and destroying a key cellular protein called RBM39. We have recently shown that a form of blood cancer known as acute myeloid leukemia (AML), which have mutations of genes involved in RNA splicing, are particularly sensitive to these drugs; we now seek to understand more about the function of RBM39 in the normal body (including normal blood production) as well as its function in the development of blood cancers. We hope that this research will both help us understand more about how blood cancers develop, and to more intelligently optimize the anti-cancer sulfonamides to minimize side-effects from destroying RBM39 in non-cancerous cells.
