# Targeting PLK1 signaling for the treatment of fibrolamellar carcinoma > **NIH NIH R01** · FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER CENTER · 2024 · $449,616 ## Abstract PROJECT SUMMARY Fibrolamellar carcinoma (FLC) is a childhood liver cancer with a high case mortality rate. Patients with FLC typically present with advanced disease, as there are no early warning signs. Thus, a cure by surgical resection is rarely attainable. In addition, FLCs are notoriously resistant to chemotherapies and other targeted therapies currently approved for liver cancer, leading to a 5-year survival of just 30%. New therapeutic strategies that counteract the molecular signaling events that go awry in FLC are urgently needed. FLC is characterized by a fusion event resulting in a novel chimeric protein that joins the N-terminal domain of DNAJ with the catalytic subunit of protein kinase A (PKAc) in hepatocytes. However, the underlying mechanism by which DNAJ-PKAc drives FLC tumor growth remains unknown. This project's overall goal is to apply an unbiased systems-based approach to identify and validate druggable signaling networks that regulate the growth of DNAJ-PKAc- expressing FLC cells and uncover a mechanistic understanding of how DNAJ-PKAc chimeric protein drives FLC. The paucity of preclinical models such as immortalized primary human FLC cell lines has precluded many investigators. Our lab has established three new model systems to address this significant gap: patient-derived cell lines bearing the FLC gene fusion, organotypic cultures, and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) mice. Utilizing these model systems, we carried out a systems-pharmacology-based functional kinase inhibitor screening in FLC cells and normal hepatocytes. We identified and confirmed the role of PLK1 kinases as essential for the growth of FLC cells. Genetic depletion or pharmacological inhibition of PLK1 selectively reduces the growth of multiple patient-derived FLC cell lines and the viability of FLC organotypic tissue slices. Further, treatment of the FLC tumor with PLK1 inhibitor significantly reduced the tumor growth in the PDX model. PLK kinases are key regulators of centrosome maturation and mitosis. Follow-up experiments suggest that DNAJ-PKAc chimera localizes to the centrosomes where it physically interacts with PLK1.Thus, we hypothesize that the heightened sensitivity of the FLC cells to PLK inhibition stems from the localization of the DNAJ-PKAc fusion protein to the centrosome, its association with the PLK1 complex, thereby enhancing the activation of PLK1 and promoting mitotic progression. We propose to 1. uncover molecular mechanisms of how DNAJ-PKAc fusion alters PLK1 activation and function, and 2. evaluate the efficacy of clinical-grade PLK1 inhibitors alone and in combination with chemotherapy in preclinical models.Functional analyses will highlight the mechanistic insights by which DNAJ-PKAc drives FLC tumor progression and the role of the PLK1 signaling complex in FLC survival, thus deepening our understanding of disease pathogenesis. Our cross-disciplinary team consisting of Drs. Gujral, Scott, and Yeung represent a cohesive collaboratio... ## Key facts - **NIH application ID:** 10874571 - **Project number:** 5R01CA273081-02 - **Recipient organization:** FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER CENTER - **Principal Investigator:** Taran Singh Gujral - **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.) - **Funding institute:** NIH - **Fiscal year:** 2024 - **Award amount:** $449,616 - **Award type:** 5 - **Project period:** 2023-08-01 → 2028-07-31 ## Primary source NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10874571 ## Citation > US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10874571, Targeting PLK1 signaling for the treatment of fibrolamellar carcinoma (5R01CA273081-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10874571. Licensed CC0. --- *[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*