Main description:

Protein kinase C (PKC), a family of serine-threonine kinases, rocketed to the forefront of the cancer research field in the early 1980's with its identification as an effector of phorbol esters, natural products with tumor promoting activity. Phorbol esters had long been of interest to the cancer research field due to early studies in the mouse skin carcinogenesis model, which showed that prolonged topical application of phorbol esters promoted the formation of skin tumors on mice previously treated with mutagenic agents. Research in the last years has established key roles for PKC isozymes in the control of cell proliferation, migration, adhesion, and malignant transformation. In addition, there is a large body of evidence linking PKC to invasion and cancer cell metastasis. Moreover, it is now well established that the expression of PKC isozymes is altered in various types of cancers. More importantly, small molecule inhibitors have been developed with significant anti-cancer activity. The relevance of PKC isozymes in cancer signaling is therefore remarkable.

This book will have 4 sections. There will be 23 chapters. Each section will have a brief introduction by an expert in the field (~ 1-2 pages).

Contents:

Part I Regulation of PKC isozyme function: from genes to biochemistry Protein Kinase C in Cancer Signaling and Therapy, Introduction and Historical Perspective - Alex Toker Regulation of conventional and novel protein kinase C isozymes by phosphorylation and lipids - Alexandra Newton Phorbol esters and diacylglycerol: the PKC activators - Peter M. Blumberg Diacylglycerol signaling: the C1 domain, generation of DAG and termination of signals - Isabel Merida Regulation of PKC by protein-protein interactions in cancer - Daria Mochly-Rosen Part II PKC isozymes in the control of cell function Introduction: PKC isozymes in the control of cell function - Chris Larsson Regulation and function of protein kinase D signaling - Enrique Rozengurt PKC and control of the cell cycle - Jennifer Black PKC and the control of apoptosis - Mary Reyland Atypical PKCs, NF-kB and inflammation - Maria Teresa Diaz-Meco and Jorge Moscat Part III PKC isozymes in cancer Introduction. PKC isozymes in cancer - Marcelo G. Kazanietz PKC, p53, and DNA damage - Kiyotsugu Yoshida PKCs as mediators of the Hedgehog and Wnt pathways - Natalia Riobo PKC-PKD interplay in cancer - Jane Wang Transgenic mouse models to investigate functional specificity of protein kinase C isoforms in the development of squamous cell carcinoma, a non-melanoma human skin cancer - Ajit Verma PKC isozymes and skin cancer - Mitch Denning PKC isozymes and breast cancer - Sofia Merajver PKC and prostate cancer - Jeewon Kim and Marcelo Kazanietz. PKC and lung cancer - Lei Xiao Part IV PKC isozymes as targets for cancer therapy Introduction. PKC isozymes as targets for cancer therapy - Patricia Lorenzo PKC and resistance to chemotherapeutic agents - Alakhananda Basu PKCd as a target for chemotherapeutic drugs - Chaya Brodie Atypical PKCs as targets for cancer therapy - Alan Fields