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Kinase Signaling in Epidermal Homeostasis and Early Neoplasia

Award Number: R01CA286612
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 08/01/2024
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 07/31/2029

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Kinase Signaling in Epidermal Homeostasis and Early Neoplasia - PROJECT SUMMARY Kinases are essential to development and deregulation of their activity contributes to cancer progression in multiple human malignancies. We recently demonstrated that the receptor tyrosine kinase rearranged during transfection (RET) enforces the undifferentiated state in epidermal progenitor cells and is aberrantly activated in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). Our long-term goal is to help develop topical selective RET inhibitors for effective therapeutic prevention of cSCC. The overall objectives of this proposal are to (i) elucidate the molecular mechanism(s) of RET regulation in human epidermis and (ii) define RET-regulated impacts on the tumor immune microenvironment while demonstrating the therapeutic efficacy of targeting RET for cSCC prevention. Our central hypothesis is that sustained expression of RET is an early and actionable event in cSCC development that results from disruption of E3 ligase interaction, enabling deregulation of downstream kinases and promoting immune escape through downregulation of MHC expression. The rationale for this project is that a determination of RET regulation and activation in the epidermis will create a strong conceptual framework for development of therapeutic strategies aimed at controlling RET signaling, such as inhibiting RET for effective secondary prevention of cSCC in at-risk persons. In the first Aim of our proposal, we will test the central hypothesis by characterizing the RET-Siah1 interaction and defining the key downstream branches regulated by epidermal RET. In the second Aim, we will investigate the timing and consequences of RET activation during the progression of human cSCC from normal skin to carcinoma in situ and evaluate the efficacy of targeting RET through genetic ablation or pharmacologic inhibition on photocarcinogenesis in vivo. The research proposed in this application is innovative, in our opinion, because it focuses on inhibiting a novel molecular target to therapeutically restore terminal maturation as a means of skin cancer prevention. The proposed research is significant because it is expected to justify preclinical and clinical studies on RET inhibition for secondary prevention of cSCC. Ultimately, such knowledge has the potential to reduce the incidence of skin cancer in this country.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $457,633 )
2025	2025	RECTOR & VISITORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA	1001 EMMET ST N	CHARLOTTESVILLE	VA	22903	CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY	USA	Cancer Biology Research	001	2	9/12/2025	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$457,633
2025	2024	THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY	450 JANE STANFORD WAY	STANFORD	CA	94305	SANTA CLARA	USA	Cancer Biology Research	000	1	9/12/2025	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $457,633

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $479,217 )
2024	2024	THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY	450 JANE STANFORD WAY	STANFORD	CA	94305	SANTA CLARA	USA	Cancer Biology Research	000	1	8/1/2024	NEW	$479,217
2024	2024	THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY	450 JANE STANFORD WAY	STANFORD	CA	94305	SANTA CLARA	USA	Cancer Biology Research	001	1	8/12/2024	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $479,217

Grand Total All Awards = $936,850

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Kinase Signaling in Epidermal Homeostasis and Early Neoplasia

Award Number: R01CA286612

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 08/01/2024

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 07/31/2029

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