Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2009

Mentor: Nima Sharifi, M.D.
Department: Internal Medicine/Oncology
Room number: ND3.120
Mail Code:
Phone number: 214 645-5910
E-mail: nima.sharifi@utsouthwestern.edu
Project title: Specific effects of superoxide on androgen receptor function and gene expression

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable):

Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable):

Project Type (basic research)

Brief Description of Project: Androgen deprivation therapy is the initial therapy for advanced prostate cancer. However, resistance to androgen deprivation almost invariably occurs through a gain-of-function in the androgen receptor (AR). We have found that manganese superoxide dismutase silencing, which occurs in prostate tumors that are resistant to hormonal therapy, results in an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and leads to AR activation. This laboratory is actively investigating the effects of ROS on AR function. The role of a summer medical student would be to define a specific project within this line of work and to work closely with a postdoctoral fellow or research assistant, depending on prior experience, and use techniques that are routinely used in the lab, such as tissue culture, luciferase assays, quantitative PCR, Western blotting, chromatin immunoprecipitation, as well as cell growth assays, to further investigate this line of work. This work will be of potential clinical and translational relevance.

Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students: None.