Lokesh Akana, MS

Affiliate- Trainee Member

Research Program:

Cancer Therapeutics

Faculty Rank:

Graduate Research Assistant

Campus:

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

College:

College of Medicine

Department:

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Cancer Research Interest

Disease Site Focus: GI
Research Focus Area: Treatment
Type of Research: Translational
Research Keywords: SETD2 methyl transferase, Radiation resistance, Colorectal cancer
Research Interest Statement: My research interests lie at the intersection of cancer biology and therapeutic resistance, with a specific focus on the molecular underpinnings of colorectal cancer. Currently, at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), my research has evolved to examine the role of the methyltransferase SETD2 in conferring radiation resistance in colorectal cancers driven by KRAS mutations. Working under Dr. Adam Wolfe, I aim to unravel how SETD2 mediates resistance pathways, potentially revealing novel therapeutic targets for this aggressive cancer subtype. My work integrates molecular biology, cancer genetics, and therapeutic interventions to better understand how oncogenic mutations alter tumor responses to treatment.