Previously Funded Research

Joel Yisraeli, PhD

Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Research Project:

Treating Lung and Colorectal Carcinomas by Targeting IGFBP1

Summary:

IGF2BP1 is a protein that binds to RNA and is usually active before birth, but it becomes active again in many types of cancers. In patients with lung adenocarcinoma, those with high levels of IGF2BP1 and a mutated KRAS gene have a much lower survival rate (15 months) compared to those without high levels of IGF2BP1 (88 months). In mice, when IGF2BP1 is active along with the mutant KRAS gene, it helps tumors grow in the lungs and spread to other parts of the body. However, blocking IGF2BP1 can prevent these tumors from spreading. This project will study the effects of an IGF2BP1 inhibitor discovered by Professor Yisraeli and his team.