Role of DNA-Dependent Protein Kinase in Breast Cancer Development/ Progression

摘要

DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) is a nuclear serine/threonine protein kinase involved in various DNA metabolism and damage signaling pathways. DNA damage activates DNA-PK, which in turn phosphorylates a number of key proteins involved in replication, repair, and transcription. Accordingly, DNA-PK has long been suspected as a factor involved in sensing and transmitting DNA damage signals to the downstream target, which eventually contributes to the genomic stability and prevention of cancer. The overall goal of this proposal is to explore the role of DNA-PK in the development and progression of breast cancer. Since DNA-PK is a DNA repair factor as well as involved in damage signaling pathway, levels of DNA-PK activity among breast cancer would contribute to their drug resistance and also provide the basis for selection of patients for treatment with chemotherapy drugs.