1. Kansas State University
  2. »Division of Communications and Marketing
  3. »K-State Today
  4. »Frank Slack to present Division of Biology Seminar Nov. 18

K-State Today

November 7, 2016

Frank Slack to present Division of Biology Seminar Nov. 18

Submitted by Division of Biology

F.Slack

Frank Slack, BIDMC/Harvard Medical School, will present "MicroRNA-based therapeutics in cancer" as a high profile speaker for the Division of Biology Seminar Series at 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18, in the Town Hall of the  Leadership Studies Building.

The abstract for the lecture is derived from MicroRNAs, small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression to control important aspects of development and metabolism such as cell differentiation, apoptosis and lifespan. miR-21, miR-155, let-7 and miR-34 are microRNAs implicated in human cancer. Specifically, human let-7 and miR-34 are poorly expressed or deleted in lung cancer, and over-expression of let-7 or miR-34 in lung cancer cells inhibits their growth, demonstrating a role for these miRNAs as tumor suppressors in lung tissue. let-7 and miR-34 regulate the expression of important oncogenes implicated in lung cancer, suggesting a mechanism for their involvement in cancer.  Slack is focused on the role of these genes in regulating proto-oncogene expression during development and cancer, and on using miRNAs to suppress tumorigenesis. In contrast, miR-21 and miR-155 are oncomiRs and up-regulated in many cancer types. He is also developing effective strategies to target these miRNAs as a novel anti-cancer approach. Lastly he is examining the non-coding portions of the genome for mutations and variants that are likely to impact the cancer phenotype. Dr. Slack has successfully resequenced the 3’UTRome and microRNAome from cancer patients with a family history of cancer.

If you would like to visit with Slack, contact Anna Zinovyeva at zinovyeva@k-state.edu. Slack’s visit is co-sponsored by the Division of Biology and the K-State Office for the Advancement of Women in Science and Engineering, or KAWSE, through the ADVANCE Distinguished Lecture Series.

In this issue

From the administration
News and research
Events
Human resources, benefits and training
Health and safety
Campus construction and maintenance
University life