Therapeutic targeting of RTK protein granules in cancer

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Project Summary Abstract Candidate: Asmin Tulpule, MD, PhD, is a pediatric oncologist and physician-scientist whose long-term goal is to lead an independent laboratory-based research program studying the basic biology and therapeutic targeting of fusion oncoproteins in cancer. His recent first-author paper in Cell, as well as contributing authorship on publications in Nature Medicine, Nature Genetics, Cell Reports and first-author papers from his graduate work in Cell Stem Cell and Blood, demonstrate his potential as a cancer researcher. This K08 application is crucial for his ongoing career development by providing him with key mentorship and training in 1) Mouse modeling of human cancer and pre-clinical drug testing, 2) Microscopy techniques to study Biomolecular Condensates, and 3) Training in RTK and RAS/RAF biology. Research: Resistance to standard of care tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy is inevitable for the majority of patients with RTK fusion-driven lung and other advanced cancers and remains the major cause of mortality. Dr. Tulpule recently found that multiple RTK fusion oncoproteins self-assemble into membraneless cytoplasmic RTK protein granules that locally coordinate RAS activation and are critical for oncogenesis. The goal of this proposal is to develop mechanistically informed therapeutics that target the unique oncogenic signaling properties of this cancer-specific biomolecular condensate. The following specific aims are proposed: 1) To test SHP2 inhibitors in xenograft models as a new RTK protein granule-directed therapeutic strategy, and 2) To determine how membraneless RTK protein granules activate RAF kinases. Mentorship and Training: Dr. Tulpule’s training will be accomplished through direct teaching of laboratory techniques, formal coursework, academic conferences, and frequent meetings with his Advisory Committee. Asmin's primary mentor is Trever Bivona, MD, PhD, a thoracic oncologist with expertise in molecularly targeted therapies and RAS biology. Dr. Bivona has mentored four post-doctoral fellows to independence within the past five years and has extensive research support from the NIH (4 NCI-funded R01’s). Dr. Tulpule has assembled a tremendous team of physician-scientists for his Advisory Committee including co-mentor Alejandro Sweet-Cordero, MD (pediatric oncologist and expert in xenograft modeling), Bo Huang, PhD (expert in high-resolution imaging techniques), Kevin Shannon, MD (expert in RAS biology and mouse models), and William Weiss, MD, PhD (expert in cancer signaling). This Advisory committee has a significant track-record of mentoring trainees to independence and will provide the necessary scientific and mentoring support. Environment. Dr. Tulpule's training and research will occur at University of California, San Francisco, a world- renowned center of biomedical research with almost $700 million in support from the NIH (ranking 3rd among all institutions). He has the full support of the Division of Pediatric Oncology and the UCSF Cancer Center, both of which have a long-track record of supporting physician-scientist investigators.