Profiling of signal transduction pathways in cancer

描述（由申请人提供）： 癌症的一个标志是控制增殖、细胞凋亡和分化的信号传导途径的激活失调。信号转导途径最终激活转录因子（TF），转录因子是结合基因启动子区的蛋白质，从而控制转录起始。为了了解信号转导网络的复杂调节，有必要建立评估众多TF的技术。目前可以在DNA、RNA或蛋白质水平上监测癌细胞中基因和基因产物的表达和功能的特定变化。然而，很少有工具可用于检查TF水平的分子变化。ATTAGENE开发了一种专有技术，能够在体内分析多种TF的转录活性。基于这项技术，我们将开发一种适用于分析几种与致癌作用密切相关的TF的检测方法，包括c-Myc、E2 F、p53、AP-1、NF-kB、CREB和β-连环蛋白/TCF。将在几种人类癌细胞系中测试该测定的效用。我们的技术允许对癌症中发生的信号转导途径的改变进行全面分析，并识别在特定类型或阶段的癌症中发挥关键作用的TF。该工具的可用性将促进对癌细胞解剖学的理解。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): A hallmark of cancer is deregulated activation of the signal transduction pathways controlling proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation. The signal transduction pathways culminate in activation of transcription factors (TFs), proteins that bind promoter regions of genes, thereby controlling transcription initiation. To understand the complex regulation of the signal transduction network, it is necessary to put in place technologies for assessment of numerous TFs. It is currently possible to monitor the specific changes occurring in cancer cells in the expression and function of genes and gene products at the DNA, RNA, or protein level. However, very few tools are available for examining the molecular changes at the TF level. ATTAGENE has developed a proprietary technology enabling the profiling of the transcriptional activities of multiple TFs in vivo. Based on this technology, we will develop an assay suitable for the profiling of several TFs that are critically involved in carcinogenesis, including c-Myc, E2F, p53, AP-1, NF-kB, CREB, and beta-catenin/TCF. The utility of this assay will be tested in several human cancer cell lines. Our technology allows for a comprehensive analysis of alterations in the signal transduction pathways occurring in cancer and for an identification of TFs that play a key role in a particular type or stage of cancer. The availability of this tool will advance understanding of cancer cell anatomy.