We are pleased to announce the publication of a new research article from the Olayioye group in the journal Cell Death & Disease. The study, “BCL-xL as a therapeutic target in cetuximab-refractory colorectal cancer”, identifies inhibition of the anti-apoptotic protein BCL-xL as a promising strategy to induce tumor cell death in colorectal cancers that have developed resistance to cetuximab.
The work represents a close collaborative effort within our institute and with external partners at the Bosch Health Campus, Charles River Laboratories, and the University of Freiburg, highlighting the strength of interdisciplinary and interinstitutional cooperation within the regional research landscape.
Importantly, the study is strongly aligned with the 3R principles (Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement), relying extensively on advanced in vitro systems and ex vivo patient-derived tumor tissue models to investigate therapeutic vulnerabilities while minimizing animal experimentation.
The underlying PhD project was conducted within the 3R-US network, funded by the Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts (MWK) Baden-Württemberg. This network laid the foundation for the Stuttgart Research Initiative 3R-BioMedicUS, making the publication a notable example of the initiative’s long-term scientific impact.
