Emmalyn Lecky
PI3K/AKT Regulation of m6A RNA Modification as an Oncogenic Target
Abstract
The PI3K/AKT pathway signaling pathway regulates essential cellular processes such as growth, proliferation, and survival and is among the most frequently dysregulated pathways in cancer. This project explores how AKT, a key serine/threonine kinase, regulates the m6A RNA modification, which controls RNA stability, translation, and degradation. Preliminary studies suggest that AKT may alter m6A through direct phosphorylation of the writer complex, and that blocking this RNA modification can enhance the efficacy of AKT inhibitors for breast cancer treatment. This research will uncover how AKT controls m6A and how this interaction impacts cancer growth, drug sensitivity, and RNA behavior. The ultimate goal is to define new combination therapies and identify RNA-modifying enzymes as drug targets, potentially offering new treatment strategies for patients with PI3K/AKT-driven cancers.
I am so grateful for the support of the PhRMA Foundation. This award will advance my research aimed at developing more effective treatments for breast cancer and improving patient outcomes.
