The new award will fund research regarding a hidden weakness in glioblastoma tumors that could lead to a new treatment

Xueqin (Sherine) Sun, PhD, was awarded a three-year, $600,000 V Foundation for Cancer Research grant to study glioblastoma, one of the most common and deadly brain cancers.

Sun will use the award to follow up on her lab’s research regarding a hidden weakness in glioblastoma tumors that could lead to a new treatment. Her team will focus on tumor protein 53, or p53, which normally prevents tumors by detecting DNA damage so it can be repaired, or the cell can self-destruct.

“Think of p53 as the body’s security guard that protects against cancer,” said Sun. In glioblastoma tumors, however, p53 often is unable to do its job.

In nearly three out of every four glioblastoma tumors, another protein called bromodomain-containing protein 8 (BRD8) locks up p53, preventing a key piece of the body’s natural defense mechanisms from fighting back against the growing threat.

“We discovered a way to break apart BRD8, which could free up p53 and let it fight the cancer again,” said Sun.  

The Sun lab will test this approach using lab-grown glioblastoma cells and mini-brain tumor models created from patient samples.

“Our goal is to advance this approach that may lead to new therapeutic strategies for patients facing this devastating disease,” said Sun.

The V Foundation for Cancer Research was founded in 1993 by ESPN and the late Jim Valvano, North Carolina State University basketball coach, ESPN commentator and member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The V Foundation has funded nearly $400 million in cancer research grants in North America.