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• cancer/oncology

• Medicine

• Oncology

The RCSI Department of Molecular Medicine (www.rcsi.ie/molmed )is based at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin. The modern laboratories are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities in molecular biology, genetic manipulation, bioinformatics and proteomics, molecular and cellular imaging, electrophysiology and cell culture. Translational Research in the Department involves clinicians and scientists in areas of oncology, endocrinology, respiratory medicine, renal physiology and inflammatory disease. The major research focus is in endocrine modulated disease such as estrogen-dependent cancers (breast, ovarian, colon, lung), estrogen modulated respiratory disease (Cystic Fibrosis Gender Gap), and aldosterone modulated renal function (hypertension) and their genetic and molecular basis with the aim to identify novel diagnostic and therapeutic targets. The hospital location makes the department ideal for training clinician PhDs.

PTPN11 mutations as therapeutic targets in solid tumours:
Activating somatic mutations in PTPN11 are present in up to 7.4% of multiple solid tumour types and likely represent a new treatment target for personalised therapy (1).
The role of PTPN11 mutations will be investigated through in vitro and in vivo studies, and optimal therapeutic regimens targeting mutated PTPN11 will be determined. A systemically deliverable PTPN11 siRNA with therapeutic potential will also be developed.
This research will ultimately lead to the design of a clinical trial to determine if MEK, PI3K or Shp2 inhibition demonstrates anti-tumour efficacy as personalised therapy in patients with PTPN11-mutated incurable metastatic tumours.
1. Elamin Y, Toomey S, Carr A, Gately K, Rafee S, Grogan W, Morris PG, Breathnach OS, Crown J, O'Byrne K and Hennessy BT. Protein tyrosine phosphatase non receptor 11 (PTPN11/Shp2) as a driver oncogene and a novel therapeutic target in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Journal of Clinical Oncology, Vol 33, No 15_suppl (May 20 Supplement), 2015: 11077