Discovery of DAPK1 inhibitors for cancer treatment

Protein kinases control key signalling events underpinning cancer growth, survival and evasion from the immune system. Significant milestones in cancer therapy have been reached in the last two decades by targeting protein kinases that control cancer growth. Mutation in the tumour suppressor p53 is one of the most frequent alterations in cancer. There is emerging evidence for the role of Death-associated protein kinase 1 (DAPK1) in the growth of p53-mutant cancers. The key aim of the project is to characterise chemical subtances that block DAPK1 and test the hypothesis that such agents will block cancer cell growth. If successful, these studies would enable the discovery of new treatments for cancer.