Ji Yeon Kim, Ph.D.

Ji Yeon Kim, Ph.D.

University of Illinois

Research Project:
Targeting Sugar Molecule Could Lead to New Lung Cancer Treatment

Grant Awarded:

  • Lung Cancer Discovery Award

Research Topic:

  • basic biologic mechanisms

Research Disease:

  • lung cancer

The formation of cancer is regulated by changes to specific genes that control energy and processing of nutrients. These steps are needed for the cancer to keep proliferating. We have found that the cellular content of sugar-related molecules called hexosamines is dramatically increased by a combination of two of the most common gene mutations in lung cancer. This increase leads to important processes that occur in cancer development. We will study how these mutations increase hexosamine metabolism in lung cancer, and evaluate if targeting this molecule can be beneficial for treating lung cancer. This research has the potential to identify new treatment strategies for lung cancer.

Page last updated: March 8, 2022

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