2015 Lung Cancer Research Foundation Annual Grant Program
Natalia Jura, PhD
University of California, San Francisco
Research Project:
How mutations activate Met receptor in lung cancer
Summary:
Approximately 7% of lung adenocarcinoma
patients have genetic alterations in the Met receptor gene resulting in its
elevated activation. Met activation correlates with worse outcomes in patients,
demonstrating the value of Met as a prognostic marker and emphasizing the
importance of Met as a target in cancer treatment. A subset of genetic
modifications in Met involves exon 14 skipping, which results in the deletion
in the portion of the gene called the juxtamembrane segment. Dr. Jura’s
research aims to uncover the molecular mechanism by which the juxtamembrane
segment of Met regulates receptor signaling and to elucidate the structural
basis for this interaction. This work will help understand the activating role
of the exon 14 skipping mutations and generate new basic knowledge about Met
receptor signaling that is essential for the design of most effective
strategies for interfering with abnormal Met activation in cancer.