Focal adhesion kinase (FAK), a non-receptor kinase, is a key regulator of integrin and focal adhesion signaling required for cancer cell survival, cell migration, and cell invasion. Amplification/Overexpression of FAK occurs in a wide variety of human cancers, supporting a role in carcinogenesis. Moreover, preclinical studies using cancer models where FAK is genetically inhibited indicate that this kinase is a potential therapeutic target to interfere with cancer progression. However, very little progress has been made in the identification of chemical inhibitors for potential therapeutic applications, in contrast to other kinases. Herein, I report optimization of the high-throughput in vitro Glo kinase assay for screening inhibitors of FAK kinase activity. Screening a large library of small molecule chemicals using these assays identified at least twenty FAK inhibitors, including a new FAK inhibitor developed by Pfizer and undergoing human clinical trials, and the non-specific kinase inhibitor staurosporine. Molecular studies of selective FAK inhibitors are undergoing in my host laboratory. In addition to this in vitro assay, I established similar assays to examine FAK kinase and adapter function in intact cells. The latter consists of ErbB-transformed cells deficient in FAK, and their matched cells where wild-type or kinase-dead FAK was restored. Biological characterization of these models revealed that both FAK kinase and adaptor activities cooperate for the regulation of cell migration, cell invasion, and tumor formation.

Bcr-abl expression being associated with anti-apoptotic signaling and expression of DNA repair enzymes, we surmised that single molecules capable of blocking abl tyrosine kinase (TK) function and damaging DNA should lead to compounds with potency superior to that of GleevecRTM. To this end, we designed novel agents termed "combi-molecules" programmed to not only behave as bcr-abl inhibitors on their own, but also to further degrade to another inhibitor and a DNA damaging species. The released inhibitor was designed to sustain bcr-abl inhibition following degradation of the combi-molecule and the DNA damaging species to activate pathways leading to apoptosis. To model this strategy termed "combi-targeting", we synthesized ZRCM5 (a monoalkyltriazene) that showed antiproliferative activity superior to that of the classical DNA damaging agent TemodalRTM, but not to that of Gleevec RTM. This result was imputed to the rather weak bcr-abl inhibitory activity of ZRCM5 and its strong DNA damaging property. Another prototype designed to contain an aniline mustard moiety (AK04) was a strong bcr-abl inhibitor but a poor DNA alkylating agent. Its cytotoxic activity was again stronger than that of the clinical alkylating agent chlorambucil but inferior to that of GleevecRTM. Further chemical studies directed at structural modification of the benzamide moiety led to the synthesis of ZRF1 with strong potency against bcr-abl TK and strong DNA damaging property. This novel optimized combi-molecule showed a 1.6-3-fold greater potency than GleevecRTM against bcr-abl expressing cells. Further investigation with ZRF1, showed that its cytotoxic potency was dependent on the p53 wild-type status of the cells. In cells expressing wild-type p53, p21 transactivation was associated with cell cycle arrest and that of Bax with apoptosis. In addition to, the pro-apoptotic effect of bcr-abl inhibition, these multiple mechanisms of action may synergistically enhance the cytotoxic potency of ZRF1 in p53 wild-type cells. The study conclusively demonstrated that p53 is a major determinant for the cytotoxic advantage of the novel combi-molecular approach in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), a disease in which 70-85% of all cases express wild-type p53.

The Met receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) is expressed in the mammary gland under both normal and neoplastic conditions. Overexpression of the Met receptor is found in 15--20% of human breast cancers and is correlated with shortened disease-free interval and overall survival. In order to explore the role of dysregulated Met receptor signaling on the development of mammary tumors I have characterized a transgenic mouse model that expresses either wild type or a dysregulated Met receptor in the mammary epithelium under the control of the mouse mammary tumor virus promoter/enhancer (MMTV-Met). The Met receptor variants contained a mutation that results in decreased receptor ubiquitination and prolonged receptor signaling (Y1003F) or an activating mutation that was originally observed in patients with papillary renal carcinoma (M1250T) or both mutations (YF/MT). In vitro and in vivo transformation assays demonstrated that each mutation singly is weakly transforming, however, there was an additive effect on transformation when both mutations were present. This additive effect was observed in the transgenic mice where multiparous MMTV-Met-YF/MT mice developed tumors earlier and with much greater penetrance than did mice expressing either of the single mutants. This provides the first in vivo model that demonstrates a role for ubiquitination in suppression of transforming activity of an RTK. MMTV-Met-YF/MT tumors displayed a range of histological phenotypes but were mainly comprised of luminal lineage cells. Notably, MMTV-Met-M1250T tumors contained cells from both the basal and luminal populations, suggesting transformation of a progenitor cell. Progenitor cell transformation in RTK transgenic mouse models is uncommon and highlights distinct signaling differences and potentially lineage specificity of the two Met mutants. / Through assays of overexpression in vivo and inhibition in vitro, Met receptor signaling has been correlated with the development of the mammary gland. To examine the effects of loss of Met receptor signaling on mammary gland development I have utilized the Cre/LoxP1 recombination system to knock-out the Met receptor from the mammary epithelium. Mammary-specific Cre recombinase efficiently excised floxed DNA as visualized by activation of a beta-galactosidase reporter In Met+/+ glands, however, few beta-galactosidase positive cells are retained In the Mefl/fl glands and an intermediate number are retained in the Met fl/+ glands. This indicates that Met-null cells are selected against and supports a role for Met in the development of the mammary gland.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Cornell University, May, 2008. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 115-128).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Virginia Commonwealth University, 2008. / Prepared for: Dept. of Biochemistry. Bibliography : leaves 84-91.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2004 / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vii, 350 p. : ill. (some col.). Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 322-346).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Virginia, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 192-224). Also available online through Digital Dissertations.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1999. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 83-111).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1996. / On t.p. "S̳h̳i̳p̳" is superscript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [94]-105).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2007. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on Sept. 15, 2009). Includes bibliographical references.