Frank Echtenkamp, Ph.D.

RESEARCH SUMMARY

Dr. Frank Echtenkamp’s research goal is to identify novel vulnerabilities in cancer cells by studying how molecular chaperones support oncogenic transformation and survival.  Dr. Echtenkamp’s recent work uncovered a previously unrecognized dependency of mitochondrial ribosomes on the mitochondrial Hsp70 system.  Furthermore, suppression of mitochondrial translation with a mt-Hsp70 inhibitor re-sensitized castration-resistant prostate cancer cells to androgen deprivation drugs, a primary therapeutic strategy for prostate cancer.  His current work is focused on understanding how cancer cells alter mitochondrial proteostasis to facilitate the oncogenic metabolic program.

Areas of Expertise