# Protein kinase C and lung carcinogenesis > **NIH NIH R56** · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · 2021 · $162,500 ## Abstract ABSTRACT KRAS mutations represent one of the most common early molecular events leading to oncogenic transformation in lung cancer. Environmental carcinogens such as benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons induce mutations in KRAS in cellular models and in vivo. Our studies identified the oncogenic kinase protein kinase C epsilon (PKCe) as a key player in cancer development. PKCe is aberrantly up-regulated in lung cancer and is associated with poor outcome in lung adenocarcinoma patients specifically harboring KRAS mutations. Using genetically engineered mice (GEM), we recently demonstrated the requirement of PKCe for Kras- driven lung tumorigenesis in vivo. In addition, B[a]P-induced lung carcinogenesis is abrogated in PKCe KO mice, a strong indication for the involvement of PKCe in oncogenic KRAS-mediated tumor initiation and in environmental carcinogenesis. Since CRISPR-mediated inactivation of PKCe in the initiating cell-of-origin does not significantly affect KRAS-G12D-induced tumor development, we hypothesize that this kinase may not strictly act in a tumor cell autonomous manner to permit oncogenic KRAS-mediated tumorigenesis in vivo. Beyond its role in cancer initiation, we also identified PKCe as an essential driver of cancer cell motility via the activation of the small GTPase Rac1 and the reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton into pro-motile ruffle protrusions. Thus, this kinase is implicated in multiple stages of lung cancer. In Aim 1, to elucidate a non-cancer cell-autonomous role for PKCe in oncogenic KRAS-mediated tumor development, we will generate and characterize a series of lung-specific KRAS-driven knock-in mouse models to restrict genetic deletion of PKCe to either oncogenic KRAS-expressing cells or microenvironmental cells, including non-cancerous epithelial cells, mesenchyme cells, and hematopoietic cells. Gene expression studies on isolated cells using fluorescence-based lineage tracing techniques will provide mechanistic insights in this context. In Aim 2, we will test the hypothesis that PKCe acts through the activation of Rac Guanine nucleotide Exchange Factors (Rac-GEFs) responsible for Rac1 activation to promote motility signaling in KRAS mutant lung cancer cells. We designed a screen to identify candidate Rac-GEFs responsible for this phenotype, which will be comprehensively characterized to dissect the mechanistic basis of Rac1 activation by PKCe. Also, a phospho-proteome signature driven by PKCe activation will be established using mass spectrometry. In Aim 3, we will establish the involvement of PKCe and Rac-GEF effectors in lung cancer metastasis. We will use combined in vitro and in vivo approaches to dissect mechanistic defects in the metastatic cascade upon CRISPR-mediated deletion of PKCe and the identified Rac-GEFs in lung adenocarcinoma cells. We will establish GEM models and use lentiviral CRISPR-based approaches to determine the permissive contribution of PKCe and Rac-GEFs to... ## Key facts - **NIH application ID:** 10477659 - **Project number:** 2R56ES026023-06 - **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA - **Principal Investigator:** Marcelo G. Kazanietz - **Activity code:** R56 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.) - **Funding institute:** NIH - **Fiscal year:** 2021 - **Award amount:** $162,500 - **Award type:** 2 - **Project period:** 2015-09-01 → 2022-08-31 ## Primary source NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10477659 ## Citation > US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10477659, Protein kinase C and lung carcinogenesis (2R56ES026023-06). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10477659. Licensed CC0. --- *[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*