# Novel Role of ThPOK in Mammary Carcinoma

> **NIH NIH R01** · RESEARCH INST OF FOX CHASE CAN CTR · 2021 · $635,372

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Overview: There is an urgent need to understand the molecular basis of HER2+ breast cancer, given that the
majority of patients eventually become refractory to treatment including with anti-HER2 therapy. Herein, we
provide preliminary data linking poor clinical outcome of human HER2+ breast cancers with the presence of
high cytoplasmic levels of the transcription factor ThPOK (cytoThPOK). Further, using a novel mouse model of
cytoplasmically restricted ThPOK (ThPOKΔNLS mice), we establish a causal relationship between cytoThPOK
and development of highly penetrant Her2+ breast cancer. Proteomic analysis of mouse breast cancer cells
indicates that cytoThPOK interacts with multiple cytosolic proteins implicated in Her2 signaling, including
several SH3 proteins that probably bind to a conserved proline-rich motif in ThPOK. Given the central role of
HER2 signaling in HER2+ breast cancer biology, we hypothesize that cytoThPOK interaction with these factors
enhances HER2-mediated signaling in some way, and that this represents an important driver of breast cancer
development/progression, that has so far been overlooked.
Research Focus: POK transcription factors have been implicated in diverse human cancers, which was
presumed to reflect direct effects on transcription. In contrast, we now implicate cytosolic localization of ThPOK
in breast cancer in humans and mice, demonstrating a novel mode of POK-mediated oncogenesis not based
on nuclear function. These findings provide an innovative and compelling premise for the proposed studies.
Specific Aims: We will elucidate the role of cytoThPOK in breast cancer according to 3 aims: SA-1:
Elucidating molecular basis of ThPOKΔNLS–mediated oncogenesis - to test effect of cytoThPOK on
HER2/EGFR expression and signaling in cell lines, and test the requirement for the ThPOK SH3-interaction
domain for cytoThPOK-mediated breast cancer in mice. SA-2: Dissecting prognostic value and molecular
basis for cytoplasmic localization of ThPOK in human BC - to evaluate correlation between high
cytoThPOK and survival in different human HER2+ breast cancer subtypes, and determine the molecular basis
for cytoplasmic localization of ThPOK in human breast cancer cells. SA-3: Elucidating effect of cytoThPOK
on BC tumor maintenance - to elucidate whether cytoThPOK is required for tumor maintenance/progression
of established cancers from ThPOKΔNLS mice, and characterize a new humanized ThPOK mouse model that
expresses a variant hThPOKp.H22pTfs*6 allele found in some human breast cancer patients.
Impact: Given the high incidence of cancer observed in mice with enforced cytoplasmic ThPOK localization
and the high frequency of cytoplasmic ThPOK localization in human HER2+ breast cancer patients, elucidating
the molecular basis by which cytoThPOK promotes breast cancer is likely to have high impact on human
health. Here we combine novel animal models and molecular approaches to elucidate these mechanisms.
These st...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10124328
- **Project number:** 5R01CA236391-03
- **Recipient organization:** RESEARCH INST OF FOX CHASE CAN CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Dietmar J Kappes
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $635,372
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-04-03 → 2024-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10124328

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10124328, Novel Role of ThPOK in Mammary Carcinoma (5R01CA236391-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10124328. Licensed CC0.

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