Carbonic Anhydrase IX (CAIX) is a dimeric membrane protein overexpressed in numerous human solid tumors. CAIX, localized on the surface of cancer cells, promotes tumor development and metastasis in hypoxic conditions by regulating pH and maintaining an acidic extracellular tumor microenvironment, improving cancer cell viability. Therefore, CAIX is a good target for cancer treatment and diagnostics. CAIX inhibitors under development must be effective and specific to prevent interactions with other carbonic anhydrases and minimize adverse effects.
In developing novel pharmaceuticals, substances and their characteristics are first evaluated using in vitro systems before advancing to preclinical or clinical trial phases. This project will examine a library of CA IX inhibitors to discover candidates with better anti-cancer activity across several experimental settings. The work will systematically evaluate inhibitor activity under hypoxic settings using 2D monolayer cultures and 3D spheroid models.
Alterations in extracellular and intracellular pH, suppression of cell viability, induction of apoptosis, and impact on tumor cell migration and invasion will be studied. The results will aid in the preclinical validation of CA IX inhibitors and guide toward the treatment of hypoxic tumors.
Mokslinis vadovas / Supervisor: Prof. dr. Daumantas Matulis
Kontaktai / Contacts:
tel. / phone: +37065506560
Programme: Biophysics N 011