Functional analysis of ONECUT2, a novel transcriptional regulator of pancreas tumor formation and malignancy

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has one of the worst cancer survival rates in the world and the therapeutic options for the disease are very limited. In the US alone, it is predicted that close to 47,000 people will succumb to pancreatic cancer in 2020. Defeating the unmet need for new therapies and diagnostic methods requires a better understanding of the fundamental biology of PDAC. The studies proposed in this application aim to firmly establish the role of the transcription factor ONECUT2 in PDAC formation and/or malignancy. These investigations should allow me to expand my ongoing pancreatic cancer studies and pave the way for fruitful collaborations with other cancer researchers and clinicians at Northwestern. My long-term goal is to produce knowledge and new resources that benefit the diagnosis and/or treatment of pancreatic cancer. These goals should be relevant for the mission of Northwestern Digestive Health Center and the DHF.