Targeting fascin to block tumor metastasis

 描述（由申请人提供）：肿瘤转移是癌症患者死亡的主要原因。因此，阻断肿瘤转移将显著提高癌症患者的生存率，并允许更温和的放射或化疗，副作用更少。肿瘤转移的一个关键步骤是肿瘤细胞的迁移和侵袭。在本申请中，我们专注于肌成束蛋白，肌动蛋白捆绑蛋白，这是肿瘤侵袭和转移的关键。Fascin的高表达与癌症患者的不良预后和短生存期相关。在具体目标1中，我们将研究肌成束蛋白抑制剂的作用机制。在具体目标2中，我们将进一步优化肌成束蛋白抑制剂。在具体目标3中，我们将使用动物模型来检查优化的肌成束蛋白抑制剂的功效和毒性。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Tumor metastasis is the major cause of death in cancer patients. Thus, blocking tumor metastasis will significantly increase the survival rate of cancer patients and allow more moderate radiation or chemotherapy with less side-effects. One critical step of tumor metastasis is tumor cell migration and invasion. In this application, we focus on fascin, an actin-bundling protein, which is critical for tumor invasion and metastasis. Elevated expression of fascin is correlated with poor prognosis and short survival in cancer patients. In specific aim 1, we will investigate the mechanism of action of fascin inhibitors. In specific aim 2, we will further optimize fascin inhibitors. In specific aim 3, we will use animal models to examine the efficacy and toxicity of optimized fascin inhibitors.