DNA REPAIR and CHEMORESISTANCE
The DNA Repair and Chemoresistance research group focuses on the DNA repair and epigenetic mechanisms that operate in adult and pediatric glioblastoma (GBM) to identify critical targets for novel therapeutic strategies.
activities
Beyond their role in preventing genetic instability and tumorigenesis, DNA repair and epigenetic mechanisms also contribute to the resistance of cancer cells to chemotherapeutic genotoxicants. These mechanisms are responsible in great part for the failure of current anti-glioma therapies. The DNA Repair and Chemoresistance research group is developing several approaches to better understand the DNA repair and epigenetic mechanisms that operate in adult and pediatric glioblastoma (GBM) and identify critical targets for novel therapeutic strategies. These approaches include:
- shRNA screens targeting components of the DNA damage response (DDR) in GBM stem-like cell lines (GSCs)
- Multiplexed gene expression analyses of GBM patient biopsies
- In vitro drug repositioning screens of GSCs representative of GBM patient subgroups
- Molecular characterisation of the mechanisms underlying DNA replication stress and the DDR in GSCs
- Characterisation of relevant xenograft animal models
A second line of investigation explores the molecular mechanisms governing the dynamics of heterochromatic regions and their impact on genomic stability in mammalian cells.
International collaborators include:
- Drs Patrick Calsou, Sébastien Britton and Florence Larminat (Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, Toulouse, France)
- Dr. Jean-Yves Masson (CHU de Québec Research Center, Québec City, Canada)
- Dr. Ross Carruthers (Institute of Cancer Sciences, Glasgow, UK)
- Dr. Philippe Pasero (Institut de Génétique Humaine, Montpellier, France)
- Drs. Bernard Rogister and Virginie Neirinckx (GIGA-Neurosciences, Liège, Belgium)
- Dr. Natacha Entz-Werlé (Laboratory Bioimaging and Pathologies, Tumoral Signaling and Therapeutic Targets, Faculty of Pharmacy, Illkirch, France)
- Drs Christel Herold-Mende and Rolf Warta (University Clinic Heidelberg, Germany)
- Drs Roland Golbrunner and Marco Timmer (University Clinic Köln, Germany)
Projects & clinical trials
- DNA repair and cell cycle gene expression signatures in adult and pediatric glioblastoma: from gene expression studies to precision medicine for GBM.
- Harnessing DNA repair, chromatin dynamics and telomere maintenance mechanisms in GBM: toward the identification of novel targets for therapeutic strategies against GBM.
- Targeting tumor propagating cells in glioblastoma: from mechanistic insights to precision medicine.
- Exploring the interrelationship between DNA repair components and the immune response in GBM.
Featured team members
Almeida PhD Student
Neumann Laboratory Technician
Pailas Postdoctoral Fellow
Torres Fernández PhD Student
Van Dyck Group Leader
Yi PhD Student
Scientific publications
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The DNA repair factor RDM1 as a novel actor in the innate immune response mediated by TLR3 in the endosome: implications for antitumor immunity and cancer therapy – 20/05/2025
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Metformin impacts the differentiation of mouse bone marrow cells into macrophages affecting tumour immunity – 30/09/2024
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DAXX promotes centromeric stability independently of ATRX by preventing the accumulation of R-loop-induced DNA double-stranded breaks – 01/12/2023
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Targeting the dna damage response in glioblastoma propagating cells: from molecular mechanisms to precision medicine – 10/11/2023
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Impact of IDH Mutations, the 1p/19q Co-Deletion and the G-CIMP Status on Alternative Splicing in Diffuse Gliomas – 06/06/2023
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Enzymatic activity of glycosyltransferase GLT8D1 promotes human glioblastoma cell migration – 18/02/2022
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DAXX maintains heterochromatin at (peri)centromeres independently of ATRX, preventing R-loop-induced DNA double strand breaks and genomic instability – 21/01/2022
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Impact of chromatin dynamics and dna repair on genomic stability and treatment resistance in pediatric high‐grade gliomas – 12/11/2021
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A DNA Damage Repair Signature in Pediatric High-Grade Gliomas: XRCC1 and PARP1, Key Biomarkers – 01/11/2021
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XAB2 promotes Ku eviction from single-ended DNA double-strand breaks independently of the ATM kinase – 27/09/2021
recent grant awards
2020
- Fondation Marie Jeanne et Edmond Schumacher Cancer Research grant to Eric Van Dyck
- Action Lions “Vaincre le Cancer» Research grant to Eric Van Dyck
- Action Lions “Vaincre le Cancer” PhD research grant to Hanane Baidarjad, PhD student, DRC
- Télévie/FNRS PhD fellowship awarded to Max Bondarchencko, PhD student, DRC
2021
- AFR/FNR PhD Fellowship to Hanane Baidarjad
- Télévie/FNRS PDR-TLV Grant to Eric Van Dyck for a collaborative project entitled “Targeting tumor propagating cells in glioblastoma: from mechanistic insights to precision medicine” (Collaboration with Drs Petr Nazarov (MODAS), Bernard Rogister and Virginie Neirinckx (GiGA-Neurosciences, Liège, Belgium)
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