Science

Dec 21, 2024, 08:51

Wafik S. El-Deiry: Our recent review on Targeting the SMURF2-HIF1α axis

Wafik S. El-Deiry, Associate Dean for Oncologic Sciences at the Warren Alpert Medical School, posted on LinkedIn about recent paper by him as co-author, titled “Targeting the SMURF2-HIF1α axis: a new frontier in cancer therapy” published on Frontiers.

Authors: Emile Youssef, Shuai Zhao, Connor Purcell, Gary L. Olson, Wafik S. El-Deiry

“Sharing our most recent review:

Targeting the SMURF2-HIF1α axis: a new frontier in cancer therapy.”

James P. Crowley, Professor of Medicine Emeritus at Brown University, shared this post on LinkedIn, adding:

“SMURF2 targets HIF1α for ubiquitination and subsequent proteasomal degradation, disrupting hypoxic responses that promote cancer cell survival, metabolic reprogramming, angiogenesis, and resistance to therapy.

Beyond its role in HIF1α regulation, SMURF2 exerts extensive control over cellular processes central to tumor progression, including chromatin remodeling, DNA damage repair, ferroptosis, and cellular stress responses.

Notably, SMURF2’s ability to promote ferroptotic cell death through GSTP1 degradation offers an alternative pathway to overcome apoptosis resistance, expanding therapeutic options for refractory cancers.”

Wafik S. El-Deiry, MD, PhD, FACP, FRSM, is the Associate Dean for Oncologic Sciences at the Warren Alpert Medical School and Director of the Legorreta Cancer Center at Brown University and Director of the Joint Program in Cancer Biology at Brown University and affiliated hospitals. He is the Editor in Chief at Oncotarget. Dr. El-Deiry discovered p21(WAF1) as a p53 target gene, cell cycle inhibitor, and tumor suppressor that explained the mammalian cell stress response. Dr. El-Deiry’s research is focused on mechanisms of therapy resistance with major efforts in drug discovery and development.

James P. Crowley is a Professor of Medicine Emeritus at Brown University and serves as a volunteer physician at the Rhode Island Free Clinic. He has held leadership positions in the medical community, including past President of the Rhode Island Medical Society and the last President of The Providence Medical Association.