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Research Directions: next
DRUG SCREENING FOR (TARGETED) THERAPY IN CANCER:
The above approaches and research directions will be eventually directed to identify reagents or compounds that can target the molecular genetic (or signaling pathway) defects that cancer cells (especially the recurrent tumor cells) harbor. Our current approach is to apply cell-based “academia-size” drug screening strategy using ovarian cancer cells with and without specific molecular changes (for example, MKK4-/- and MKK4+/+ cells) that have been uniquely developed in our lab. We will focus on natural compounds including extracts from Chinese herbal medicine in which we have collected thousands of different kinds through international collaborations. From Chinese herbal medicine libraries, we expect to identify the lead compounds (extracts) as potential new cancer drugs. Preclinical mouse models (as discussed in the previous and the following sections) will be used to evaluate the therapeutic effects and possible toxicity.
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