KeyHunt Laboratory
Khandan Keyomarsi, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
Kelly K. Hunt, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Principal Investigator
Areas of Research
- Breast Cancer
- Sarcoma
- Biochemistry
- Chemotherapy
- DNA Damage Response
- DNA Repair
- Gene Expression
- Molecular Biology
- Targeted Therapy
- Tumor Suppression
- Uterine Cancer
The KeyHunt Laboratory is directed by Dr. Khandan Keyomarsi and Dr. Kelly K. Hunt. The lab is focused on clinical and translational cancer research in solid tumors, primarily in breast cancers and sarcomas.
Our Research
Our laboratory has developed a research program for identifying novel therapeutic strategies and prognostic markers based on alterations in G1/S and G2/M checkpoints in tumor cells focusing on solid tumors such as breast, sarcoma, pancreatic and lung cancers. We are currently involved in five primary areas of research, which fall into translational and basic research categories:
1) Inhibition of LMW forms of cyclin E as a therapeutic target
in combination therapy for triple negative breast cancer.
2) Delineation of how the alteration of cyclin E, a G1 cyclin,
could lead to the tumorigenic phenotype and determination of the oncogenic potential of the altered forms of cyclin E in breast cancer.
3) Determination of the mechanism of action of intracellular
elastase and its inhibitor elafin in tumorigenesis and subsequent metastasis.
4) Examination of mechanisms of action and resistance to CDK4/6 inhibitors in ER positive breast cancer patients.
5) Identification of novel treatment strategies, targeting the
cell cycle, for soft-tissue sarcomas.
The translation of these research directions into clinical trials is the main focus of our laboratory.
Related Departmental Links:
Department of Breast Surgical Oncology
Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology
Low molecular weight cyclin E isoforms (LMW-E) are generated by neutrophil elastase-mediated proteolytic cleavage, removing the N-terminal nuclear localization signal. LMW-E isoforms accumulate in the cytoplasm where they inappropriately interact with cytoplasmic proteins such as ACLY. The altered biochemistry of LMW-E results in hyperactivation of CDK2, resistance to endogenous CDK-inhibitors (p21CIP1 and p27KIP1), and altered substrate interactions, which results in enhanced cell cycle progression, genomic instability, and other pro-tumorigenic features. Evaluation of LMW-E by western blot (protein size) or immunohistochemistry (cytoplasmic localization) is prognostic of poor prognosis and predicts failure of standard treatment modalities.
Keyomarsi & Hunt Training Grants
CPRIT Research Training Grant
CPRIT Research Training Program provides fundamental, interdisciplinary, and innovative training in cancer research at MD Anderson. This program is the continuation of highly successful and comprehensive training programs supported by the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas (RP101502, RP140106, and RP170067). Our program includes three tracks: the CPRIT TRIUMPH (Translational Research in Multidisciplinary Programs) post-doctoral, CPRIT Graduate Scholar, and CPRIT Summer Undergraduate Research Programs.
The CPRIT Research Training Program is led by:
- Dr. Khandan Keyomarsi, Co-Director & PI
- Dr. Stephanie S. Watowich, Co-Director & Co-PI
Meet the Team
Front Row: Angela Seballos Recinos, Linjie Luo, Dr. Kelly Hunt, Dr. Khandan Keyomarsi, Yan (Esther) Wang, Hannah Wingate
Back Row: Kara Lewis, Gracie Cantu, Grace DeAlessandro, Mahdia Rahman, Xiao-Ting Jiang, Mukulika Bose, Mi Li, Saba Kamaliasl, Tuyen Bui, Taiwo Adesoye, Rezvan Esmaeili, Ronak Ghanbari Azarnier, Nicole Massoumi, Mei-Kuang Chen, Serena Kim, Chien Tran-Phuoc