Abstract A82: Regulation and role of NF-KB in pancreatic cancer.

Increased levels of NF-kappaB are hallmarks of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and both, classical and alternative NF-kappaB activation pathways have been implicated. The resistance to common chemotherapeutics in pancreatic cancer and PDAC cell lines is tightly linked to increased NF-kappaB activity. NF-kappaB is an inducible transcription factor which, dependent on the stimulus, is regulated by a variety of kinase regulated signaling cascades. Purpose of our 2008 Pancreatic Cancer Action Network-AACR Career Development Award was to perform kinome-wide RNAi screens to identify kinases that are regulating the high basal levels of NF-kappaB in PDAC. Identified kinases were then analyzed for their contribution to the resistance of pancreatic cancer cells to conventional chemotherapeutics. Current focus in the laboratory is on the serine/ threonine kinase protein kinase D (PKD), of which we have shown that it regulates NFkappaB. We are interested in the contribution of PKD to development and progression of PDAC.

Citation Format: Peter Storz. Regulation and role of NF-KB in pancreatic cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer: Progress and Challenges; Jun 18-21, 2012; Lake Tahoe, NV. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(12 Suppl):Abstract nr A82.