Another aspect of drug resistance is related to the new area of Mucin dependent signaling. Studies by Don Kufe, Sandra Gendler and others have suggested that the mucin MUC1, present on breast and ovarian cancers, is a key player in the cytotoxicity of certain chemotherapies including Cisplatin. The ca125 antigen, MUC16, is another family member with substantial homology to MUC1. In this project, we are exploring the mechanisms of MUC16 extracellular domain release, and the function of the cytoplasmic tail of the MUC16.
