Targeting the ETV/PEA3 transcriptional circuitry with selective small molecule probes

NIH RePORTER · NIH · R01 · $339,052 · view on reporter.nih.gov ↗

Abstract

Project Summary The transition of localized breast cancer to metastatic disease is a major contributor to increased disability and death associated with advanced disease. Treatment options are limited once metastatic status has been reached; although metastases originate from the primary tumor, fundamental shifts in cell phenotype occur during the stages of dissemination, formation of micro-metastases, and the growth of metastases themselves. The origin and influence of these differences remains poorly understood. There is thus a great need for small molecule tools that modulate uniquely activated metastatic pathways in order to identify specific and effective therapeutic options. Through this work we will both provide small molecule tools targeted to a cellular invasion pathways that are uniquely activated in metastasis and test if pharmacological inhibition of these pathways can block metastatic phenotypes in breast cancer. This will be accomplished through targeting a dysregulated transcription factor complex formed between the ETV/PEA3 transcriptional activators (ETV1, ETV4, and ETV5) and the coactivator Med25 with natural product-based modulators. Taken together, these studies will define new pathways for therapeutic targeting of advanced cancer and the natural product modulators will serve as starting points for the long-term development of novel therapies.

Key facts

NIH application ID
9956984
Project number
5R01CA140667-10
Recipient
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
Principal Investigator
ANNA K. MAPP
Activity code
R01
Funding institute
NIH
Fiscal year
2020
Award amount
$339,052
Award type
5
Project period
2009-05-20 → 2022-06-30