Deciphering the crosstalk of the mTORC1 and MAPK networks in cancer

Signal transduction is the process by which signals are transmitted through a cell, resulting in a coordinated cellular response. External signals are detected by receptors at the cellular surface. These receptors induce a chain of intracellular biochemical events known as signaling pathways. When signaling pathways interact with each other they form networks, which enable the integration of multiple external inputs and the regulation of multiple cellular processes in a coordinated manner.  In cancer, signaling pathways are often dysregulated such that tumor cells escape growth control. The signaling pathways centered on the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinases constitute two major hubs of growth control, which are dysregulated in many tumour entities. Thus, many drugs that are in the clinics or in clinical trials target these two key oncogenic pathways, however only with limited success. In my thesis, I focus on a better understanding of the complex crosstalk of the mTOR and MAPK pathways, which may contribute to cancer therapy escape. My findings may contribute to the design of combinatorial and more effective cancer treatment strategies.

Dissertation: http://hdl.handle.net/11370/6e9bb06e-60cf-4a5a-8191-dc2b02bb742a