Abstract Chiara Francavilla:
Receptor Tyrosine Kinases (RTKs), such as Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptors (FGFRs), are molecular sensors that enable cells to interpret their environment and decide whether to grow, move, or die. FGFR-dependent intracellular signaling activation and cellular outputs depend on the engaged ligand. As FGFR aberrant signaling has been associated to breast cancer progression, studying ligand-dependent FGFR proximal signaling and resulting cellular responses at a system-wide level may contribute to a better characterization of FGFR-driven breast cancer.
To study changes in FGFR proximal signaling we use a multidisciplinary approach named “functional proteomics”, which combines shotgun mass spectrometry (MS)-based quantitative phosphoproteomics, bioinformatics, imaging, and functional assays.
The final goal hereby is to identify and characterize proteins with key roles in RTK signaling that can be targeted for intervention in human diseases.