Role of PKCβ in Breast Cancer
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Date
2013-05
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The Ohio State University
Abstract
The protein kinase C (PKC) family of serine/threonine protein kinases and their tumor-promoting role in cancer research has been studied for nearly three decades. Previous studies showed that the PKC gene plays a major role in signal transduction and regulation of gene expression, and identified PKC activators as tumor-promoting agents. The PKCβ isoenzyme, in particular, has been linked to various types of cancer through its association with blood vessel formation, which plays a principal role in tumor progression. While the PKC gene has been the focus of a multitude of studies, the mechanistic function of many of its isoforms is not yet wholly understood.
This study focuses on gaining insight on the function of the PKCβ isoenzyme through the use of a genetic mouse model. We aim to determine a possible mechanism through which PKCβ promotes tumor growth. Furthermore, we seek to gain a better understanding as to whether the main role of PKCβ in tumor progression is cell-autonomous or whether it interacts with the tumor microenvironment. Ultimately, better mechanistic insight into the function of this tumor-promoting gene can lead to the development of more effective inhibitor treatments for cancer therapies.
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Breast Cancer