Gene Regulation in Cancer
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Group for Gene Regulation in Cancer studies the structure and function of regulatory DNA and RNA elements and their role in the development and progression of malignant diseases.
The main research topics are:
- Alternative gene promoters - activity in different cellular and physiological contexts and interactions with transcriptional regulators and small RNAs
- Non-coding RNAs - structure and function, interaction partners, expression in different cellular and physiological contexts and role in carcinogenesis-related processes
- 5'-untranslated regions (5'-UTR) - expression profile of transcripts with different 5'-UTRs in different cellular and physiological contexts and interactions with translational regulators and microRNAs
- TGFB signaling pathway - structure and function of alternative promoters and 5'-UTR genes encoding signaling pathway members, interaction of mRNA with microRNA and characterization of functional variants
- Response to chemoradiotherapy - characterization of molecular mechanisms underlying the complete pathological response and chemoradioresistance
The research is focused on solid tumors of the gastrointestinal tract: colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, hepatocellular cancer and oral cancer. The research also includes lung cancer, thyroid cancer and ovarian cancer.
Research is performed on 2D and 3D cell cultures and tumor and non-tumor tissue samples obtained during tumor resection or biopsy. Special attention is dedicated to the development of a model system for ex vivo stimulation of tumor tissue in order to examine the mechanisms and determinants of the response to chemoradiotherapy.
In addition to classical techniques of molecular and cell biology, the research is conducted using modern bioinformatics approaches and high-throughput methods - transcriptomics and proteomics.
Students of all levels of study are involved in the work through the realization of seminar and scientific research papers.
Innovation activities are aimed at examining the potential of regulatory DNA and RNA elements as biosensors, biomarkers and therapeutic targets in cancer.
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Aleksandra Nikolic, Full Research Professor
E-mail: aleksandra.nikolic@imgge.bg.ac.rs
Tel: +381 66 8038498
P.O. BOX 23, 11010 Beograd, Srbija -
ASSOCIATE RESEARCH PROFESSORS
ASSISTANT RESEARCH PROFESSOR
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
JUNIOR RESEARCHER
OTHERS
- Jelena Ljubičić, junior researcher
- Katarina Zeljić, associate professor
IMGGE work program for 2024 - Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia, 451-03-66/2024-03/200042, 2024
