The overall goal of this Program is to investigate the role of the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) signaling pathway in tumor homeostasis and tumor progression. Rapidly proliferating cancer cells must thrive in a microenvironment wherein metabolic nutrients such as glucose, oxygen and growth factors become limiting as tumor volume expands beyond the established vascularity of the tissue. The UPR functions as a sensor of the availability of key cellular nutrients, such as glucose and oxygen that are criticall important for tumor growth and progression. The UPR and specifically the PERK kinase, has recently been shown to facilitate oncogene-mediated tumor progression, suggesting that the UPR may also respond to bioenergetic challenges triggered by aberrant oncogene-dependent signaling. The overall hypothesis being interrogated by this Program Project is that the UPR and more specifically, the PERK kinase, functions as a sensor of tumor ceil autonomous and non-autonomous bioenergetic stress; the ensuing activation of PERK catalytic function promotes tumor cell adaptation to this stress and thereby facilitates tumor progression. To test this hypothesis, three synergistic projects have been developed. Project 1 will evaluate mechanisms whereby a micro-RNA balances PERK-dependent pro-survival and pro-apoptotic functions. Key preliminary data suggest that miR-211 is a novel regulator of the pro-apoptotic factor, CHOP, and functions to temporally regulate CHOP expression. Project 2 will interrogate the function of PERK as a first response regulator of c- Myc-dependent bioenergetic and proteotoxic stress. Through its capacity to temper protein translation, PERK moderates cellular response to c-Myc thereby ensuring that bioenergetic capacity matches oncogenic demand resulting in tumor growth rather than apoptosis. Project 3 will test the hypothesis that tumor cells activate the UPR, and, perhaps, more broadly the Integrated Stress Response (ISR) due to oncogene activation or oxygen and/or nutritional deficit, and thereby acquire the ability to escape the anti proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of Type 1 interferons, IFN?/. Through the synergistic functions of this Program, we will ascertain how PERK balances growth with apoptosis (Projects 1 and 2), how PERK responds to environmental challenge (Projects 1 and 3) and how tumor cells utilize PERK and the UPR to adapt to oncogene-triggered bioenergetic stress (Projects 1-2-3). All three projects will make extensive use of scientific Core B (Cell/Tissue Morphology Core) and have already established a working, highly collaborative relationship. It is our supposition that findings stemming from work proposed herein will provide a foundation for the design of novel anti-cancer treatment strategies targeting this pathway.

Public Health Relevance

The Unfolded Protein Response functions as a signaling pathway that facilitates cell adaptation to bioenergetic and oncogenic stress. The work described in this Program Project will delineate molecular mechanisms whereby the UPR regulates tumor progression and this work should contribute to the development of more effective approaches to combat cancer.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Program Projects (P01)
Project #
4P01CA165997-04
Application #
9122092
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZCA1)
Program Officer
Salnikow, Konstantin
Project Start
2013-09-18
Project End
2018-08-31
Budget Start
2016-09-01
Budget End
2017-08-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2016
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Pennsylvania
Department
Radiation-Diagnostic/Oncology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
042250712
City
Philadelphia
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
19104
Bu, Yiwen; Yoshida, Akihiro; Chitnis, Nilesh et al. (2018) A PERK-miR-211 axis suppresses circadian regulators and protein synthesis to promote cancer cell survival. Nat Cell Biol 20:104-115
Nguyen, Hao G; Conn, Crystal S; Kye, Yae et al. (2018) Development of a stress response therapy targeting aggressive prostate cancer. Sci Transl Med 10:
Zhao, Bin; Bhattacharya, Sabyasachi; Yu, Qiujing et al. (2018) Expression of the IFNAR1 chain of type 1 interferon receptor in benign cells protects against progression of acute leukemia. Leuk Lymphoma 59:171-177
Rozpedek, W; Nowak, A; Pytel, D et al. (2017) Molecular Basis of Human Diseases and Targeted Therapy Based on Small-Molecule Inhibitors of ER Stress-Induced Signaling Pathways. Curr Mol Med 17:118-132
Ortiz, Angélica; Fuchs, Serge Y (2017) Anti-metastatic functions of type 1 interferons: Foundation for the adjuvant therapy of cancer. Cytokine 89:4-11
Katlinski, Kanstantsin V; Gui, Jun; Katlinskaya, Yuliya V et al. (2017) Inactivation of Interferon Receptor Promotes the Establishment of Immune Privileged Tumor Microenvironment. Cancer Cell 31:194-207
Hong, Feng; Liu, Bei; Wu, Bill X et al. (2017) CNPY2 is a key initiator of the PERK-CHOP pathway of the unfolded protein response. Nat Struct Mol Biol 24:834-839
Davar, Diwakar; Fuchs, Serge Y; Kirkwood, John M (2016) BRAF Inhibitors and IFN?: Plus, Minus, or Indeterminate? J Natl Cancer Inst 108:
Bu, Yiwen; Diehl, J Alan (2016) PERK Integrates Oncogenic Signaling and Cell Survival During Cancer Development. J Cell Physiol 231:2088-96
Gui, Jun; Gober, Michael; Yang, Xiaoping et al. (2016) Therapeutic Elimination of the Type 1 Interferon Receptor for Treating Psoriatic Skin Inflammation. J Invest Dermatol 136:1990-2002

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