Project Description Narrative:
Gynecologic cancers represent a formidable healthcare challenge in the United States, with approximately 84,000 new cases diagnosed annually and, tragically, 28,000 fatalities per year attributed to these cancers, which predominantly encompass five primary types: cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar cancers. Among these, ovarian cancer stands out as the most lethal, ranking fifth in cancer-related female deaths.
While the precise etiology of many gynecologic cancers remains elusive, several contributing factors are believed to include environmental influences like smoking or obesity, excessive exposure to hormones like estrogen replacement therapy, and a family history of gynecologic cancer. Gynecologic cancers pose a serious health concern and understanding the risk factors, causes, and economic implications can help develop strategies for prevention, early detection, and effective treatment. This project will help address challenges in the field of cancer research by testing the hypothesis that the overexpression of NAT10 in tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) plays a pivotal role in posttranscriptional gene regulation and fosters an immunosuppressive phenotype, consequently facilitating the growth and metastasis of ovarian cancer.