Research Projects
Ferroptosis as potential target in ovarian cancer therapy


Programme(s) to which this project applies:
☑ MPhil/PhD ☒ MRes[Med] ☒ URIS

Ovarian cancer is a malignancy of high mortality, attributed to relatively common chemoresistance and recurrence. Our team is experienced in studying genetics and cell biology of ovarian cancer with correlation to clinical and pathological parameters. In particular, the impact of different forms of regulated cell death such as apoptosis and autophagy on ovarian cancer chemosensitivity is an important research focus. Ferroptosis, a recently described iron dependent regulated cell death, is emerging as important in cancer development and response to therapy.

We initiated this study by first evaluating the susceptibility of ovarian cancer cells towards classic ferroptosis inducers. We now plan to study a few US-FDA-approved drugs with history of use in various diseases are found to induce ferroptosis. This study aims to explore possible repurposing of these drugs for ovarian cancer therapy, either as single agent or as adjunct to chemotherapy, in vitro cell lines and ovarian cancer patient derived xenograft in vivo model. Moreover, the mechanism of ferroptosis resistance will be investigated focusing on genetic manipulation of candidate ferroptosis regulator genes involved in lipid metabolism and metabolic pathway. The results of this study will pave the way for repurposed use of relatively safe pharmaceutical agents targeting ferroptosis as novel therapy for ovarian cancer.

Professor ANY Cheung, Department of Pathology

Biography
Scholars Hub
ORCID
anycheun@hkucc.hku.hk

For more information or to express interest for this project, please email the supervisor or the specified contact point in the project description.  Interested candidates are advised to enclose with your email:

  1. your CV,
  2. a brief description of your research interest and experience, and
  3. two reference letters (not required for HKUMed UG students seeking MRes[Med]/URIS projects).

Information on the research programme, funding support and admission documentations could be referenced online at the Research Postgraduate Admissions website. General admission enquiries should be directed to rpgmed@hku.hk.

HKUMed MBBS students interested in the Master of Research in Medicine (MRes[Med]) programme may visit the programme website for more information.  

HKUMed UG students interested in the Undergraduate Research Internship Scheme (URIS) may visit the scheme’s website for more information. 

Research @ Department of Pathology