Northwestern Events Calendar

Nov
19
2021

TEAM/SBDRC Seminar: Targeting Ga13 Signaling in Pancreatic Diseases

When: Friday, November 19, 2021
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CT

Where: Ward Building, Ward 3-015 conference room, 303 E. Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611 map it

Audience: Faculty/Staff - Student - Post Docs/Docs - Graduate Students

Cost: free

Contact: Jodi Johnson  

Group: Lurie Cancer Center Basic Science Programs

Category: Lectures & Meetings

Description:

The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University's Tumor Environment and Metastasis Program and the Skin Biology and Diseases Resource-Based Center present:

Targeting Ga13 Signaling in Pancreatic Diseases

Mario Shields, PhD
Research Assistant Professor 
Medicine (Hematology/Oncology)
Northwestern University
Feinberg School of Medicine

Heterotrimeric G proteins carry signals from G protein coupled receptors, the largest class of cell surface proteins that play critical roles in normal and pathological processes such  as cell growth, differentiation, inflammation, and cancer. Our group previously showed that Gα13, a member of the G12 family of G proteins, is elevated in some human pancreatic cancer tumors and regulates invasion in vitro. As a follow up to the previous studies, Gα13 was investigated in a genetic engineered mouse model of pancreatic cancer. This lecture will outline findings of an unanticipated tumor suppressor function of Gα13 in pancreatic cancer. Loss of Gα13 in the mouse pancreas promoted E-cadherin expression while decreasing survival in a mutant Kras/p53-driven tumor model. Furthermore, analysis of human and mouse pancreatic tumors showed loss of Gα13 lead to elevated mTOR signaling. Importantly, tumors deficient in Gα13 expression are sensitive to inhibition of mTOR signaling.

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